BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

A  PLAY 

CLEMKNCE    DANE 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

RIVERSIDE 


GIFT  OF 

Dr.  Kate  Gordon  Moore 


A 
BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

A  PLAY 


BY 

CLEMENCE  DANE 


Legend 

First  the  Blade 

Regiment  of  Women 


A   BILL 
OF    DIVORCEMENT 

A  PLAY 


BY 

CLEMENCE  DANE 


THE  MACMILLAN  COMPANY 
1921 

All  rights  reserved 


PR  cool 
S4f'bS5 


Copyright,    1921,       By   Clemenoe   Dane 


Set    up    and    printed.      Published    February,    1921 


THE  PEOPLE  OF  THE  PLAY 
IN  THE  ORDER  OF  THEIR  APPEARANCE 

MARGARET  FAIRFIELD 

MISS  HESTER  FAIRFIELD 

SYDNEY  FAIRFIELD 

BASSETT 

GRAY  MEREDITH 

KIT  PUMPHREY 

HILARY  FAIRFIELD 

DR.  ALLIOT 

THE  REV.  CHRISTOPHER  PUMPHREY 


SCENE 

A  Small  House  in  the  Country 

The  action  passes  on  Christmas  Day,  1933. 

The  audience  is  asked  to  imagine  that  the  divorce  hill, 
at  present  under  discussion,  has  become  the  law  of  the 
land. 

ACT  I. — The  hall:  morning. 

ACT  II. — The  drawing-room  :  early  afternoon. 

ACT  III. — The  hall:  late  afternoon. 


ACT  I 

The  curtain  rises  on  the  hall,  obviously  used  as  the  com- 
mon room  of  a  country  house.  On  the  right  {of  the 
audience)  is  the  outer  door  and  a  staircase  that  runs 
down  from  an  upper  landing  toward  the  middle  of 
the  room,  half  hiding  what  has  once  been  a  separate 
smaller  room  with  a  baize  door  at  the  back.  In  the 
corner  a  French  zviiidow  opens  on  to  a  snozv-bound 
garden.  On  the  left,  facing  the  entrance,  a  log  fire 
is  blazing.  Staircase,  pictures,  grandfather  clock, 
etc.,  are  zvreathcd  with  holly  and  mistletoe.  At  the 
breakfast  table,  zvhich  is  laid  for  three  and  littered 
with  paper  and  string,  sit  Miss  Hester  Fairfield  and 
Margaret  Fairfield,  her  niece  by  marriage.  The 
third  chair  has  two  or  three  parcels  piled  up  on  it. 

Hester  Fairfield  is  one  of  those  twitching,  high-minded, 
elderly  ladies  in  black  who  keep  a  grievance  as  they 
might  keep  a  pet  dog  —  as  soon  as  it  dies  they  replace 
it  by  another.  The  grievance  of  the  moment  seems 
to  be  the  empty  third  chair,  and  Margaret  Fairfield 
is,  as  usual,  on  the  defensive.  Such  a  little,  pretty, 
helpless-looking  woman  as  Margaret  has  generally 
half  a  dozen  big  sons  and  a  husband  to  bully;  but 
Margaret  has  only  a  daughter,  and  her  zvay  of  look- 
ing at  even  the  chair  in  zvhich  that  daughter  ought  to 
be  sitting,  is  the  way  of  a  child  whose  doll  has  sud- 
denly come  to  life.  For  the  rest,  she  is  so  youthfidly 
an.vious  and  simple  and  charming  that  the  streak  of 
gray  in  her  hair  puzzles  you.  You  zvonder  what 
I 


2  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

trouble   has  fingered  it.     It   does   not    occur   to  you 
that  she  is  quite  thirty-five. 

MARGARET 

[Apologizing.'] 
Yes,  she  is  late. 

MISS  FAIRFIELD 

As  usual. 

MARGARET 

Oh,  well,  she  was  dancing  till  three.  I  hadn't  the 
heart  to  wake  her, 

MISS  FAIRFIELD 

Till  three,  Was  she?    Who  brought  her  home? 

MARGARET 

Kit,  of  course. 

MISS  FAIRFIELD 

Three  o'clock  on  Christmas  morning!  I  wonder 
what  the  rector  said  to  that. 

MARGARET 

Oh,  Kit's  on  holiday. 

MISS  FAIRFIELD 

I  heard  you  tell  her  myself  to  be  in  by  twelve.  If 
anything  could  make  me  approve  of  this  marriage  of 
yours  — 

MARGARET 

Oh,  don't  begin  it  again,  auntie! 

MISS  FAIRFIELD 

—  it's  that  the  child  will  have  a  strong  hand  over 
her  at  last.     A  stepfather's  better  than  nothing  —  if 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  3 

you  can  call  him  a  stepfather  when  her  father's  still 
alive. 

MARGARET 

Oh,  don't ! 

MISS  FAIRFIELD 

What's  the  use  of  saying  "don't"?  He  is  alive. 
You  can't  get  away  from  that. 

MARGARET 

Aunt  Hester  —  please ! 

MISS  FAIRFIELD 

Well,  I'm  only  telling  you  —  if  it's  got  to  be,  I'm 
not  sorry  it's  Gray  Meredith. 

MARGARET 

[Smiling.'] 
Yes,  Sydney  knows  just  how  far  she  may  go  with 
Gray. 

MISS  FAIRFIELD 

I  see  nothing  to  laugh  at  in  that. 

MARGARET 

It's  so  funny  to  think  how  circumspect  you  all  are 
with  him.  He's  the  one  person  I've  always  felt  per- 
fectly safe  with.     I'd  ask  anything  of  Gray. 

MISS  FAIRFIELD 

[Grimly.'] 
You  always  have,  my  dear ! 

MARGARET 

I  don't  know  why  you  should  be  unkind  to  me  on 
Christmas  morning. 


4  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

MISS  FAIRFIELD 

[IVitJi  a  sort  of  grudging  affection.'] 

I  suppose  it's  because  I've  only  got  another  week 
to  be  unkind  to  you  in. 

MARGARET 

[Restlessly.'] 
Oh,  I  wish  you  didn't  hate  it  so. 

MISS  FAIRFIELD 

My  dear,  when  you  see  a  person  you  care  for,  and 
she  your  own  nephew's  wife,  on  the  brink  of  deadly 
sin  — 

MARGARET 

Must  we  begin  it  again? 

MISS  FAIRFIELD 

I  do  my  duty.  If  you'd  done  yours  your  daughter 
wouldn't  be  late  for  breakfast,  and  I  shouldn't  be  given 
the  opportunity. 

MARGARET 

Perhaps  I  had  better  call  her. 

MISS  FAIRFIELD 

Everything  getting  cold  —  and  so  disrespectful ! 
She  ought  to  be  taught. 

MARGARET 

[Rising   with   a   sigh.] 
You're  quite  right. 

[Calling  at  the  foot  of  the  stairs.] 
Sydney,  darling,  shall  I  bring  you  up  your  coffee? 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  5 

SYDNEY'S  VOICE 

lAnswering.'] 
It's  all  right,  mother,  I'm  coming. 

MISS  FAIRFIELD 

And  I  suppose  that's  all  you'll  say. 

[Sydney  comes  out  of  her  room.  Slie  is  physically  a 
bigger,  fairer  edition  of  Margaret,  but  there  the 
likeness  ends.  Her  manner  is  brisk  and  decided. 
She  is  very  sure  of  herself,  but  zvhcn  she  loses  her 
temper,  as  she  often  does,  she  loses  her  aplomb  and 
reveals  the  schoolgirl.  Her  attitude  to  the  world  is 
that  of  justice  untempered,  except  where  her  mother 
is  in  question,  by  mercy.  But  she  is  very  fond  of 
her  mother.'] 

SYDNEY 

[Running  down  the  stairs.'] 

Merry  Christmas  every  one!     I'm  not  late,  am  I? 
Morning,  auntie  !     What,  no  post  ? 

MARGARET 

It  gets  later  every  year. 

MISS  FAIRFIELD 

I'm  very  much  obliged  to  you,  Sydney,  for  the  — 
cardcase. 

SYDNEY 
[Undoing  her  parcels.] 

It's  a  cigarette  case,  auntie  dear.  You  see,  I 
thought  if  you  gave  me  a  prayer  book  again  we  might 
do  a  deal.  Ah,  I  thought  so !  Thanks  most  awfully. 
It's  sweet  of  you.     Shall  we? 


6  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

MISS  FAIRFIELD 

What? 

SYDNEY 

Swap. 

MARGARET 

Sydney,  dear,  that's  rather  rude. 

SYDNEY 

[Swiftly.] 
Well,  mother,  I  hate  being  hinted  at. 

MARGARET 

[Beimldered.l 
Hint  ?     What  hint  ? 

SYDNEY 

Oh,   mother,  you're   such  a  lamb.     You  never  see 

anything. 

[To  Miss  Fair  field.] 

I'm  sorry,  auntie,  but  I'm  seventeen,  and  I've  left 
school,  and  I  am  not  going  to  church  to-day,  or  any  day 
any  more  ever,  except  to  chaperon  mother  and  Gray 
next  week,  bless  'em! 

MISS  FAIRFIELD 

I  do  think,  Margaret,  she  ought  at  least  to  call  him 
"  Uncle." 

MARGARET 

Aren't  you  coming  with  us  to-day,  darling?  Christ- 
mas Day? 

SYDNEY 

Sorry,  mother.  It's  against  my  principles.  I  re- 
fuse to  kneel  down  and  say  I'm  a  miserable  sinner. 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  7 

I'm  not  miserable  and  I'm  not  a  sinner,  and  I  cannot 
tell  a  lie  to  please  any  old  —  prayer  book.  Besides, 
I'm  expecting  Kit. 

MISS  FAIRFIELD 

You'll   find  that  Kit  takes  his  mother  to   church. 
She  hasn't  lost  all  her  influence  — 

SYDNEY 

[Darkly.l 
She'll  be  finding  herself  up  against  me  soon. 

MARGARET 

[Like  a  schoolgirl.'] 
Oh,  Sydney,  has  he  —  ? 

SYDNEY 

He's  trying  his  hardest  to,  but  I  like  to   sort  of 
spread  my  jam. 

MARGARET 

Then  —  then — ? 

SYDNEY 

I'm  not  actually  engaged,  if  you  mean  that  — 
[Watching  their  faces  mischievously.'] 
—  but  I'm  going  to  be. 

MISS  FAIRFIELD 

Engaged  at  seventeen !     Preposterous ! 

SYDNEY 

[Instantly.] 
Mother  was  married  at  seventeen. 


8  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

MARGARET 

That  was  the  war. 

SYDNEY 

I  don't  see  what  that's  got  to  do  with  it. 

MARGARET 

ITiniidly.'] 
Sydney  —  at  seventeen,  one  doesn't  know  enough  — 

SYDNEY 

One  doesn't  know  the  same  things,  I  dare  say. 

MARGARET 

One  doesn't  know  anything  at  alL 

SYDNEY 

Yes,  but  think  of  the  hopeless  sort  of  world  you 
were  seventeen  in  —  even  you.  As  for  poor  auntie, 
as  far  as  knowing  things  goes  — 

MARGARET 

Sydney,  my  dear,  be  good ! 

SYDNEY 

I  am  being  good ;  I'm  returning  hint  for  hint. 

MISS  FAIRFIELD 

^Ruffling.'] 
Is  this  the  way  you  let  your  daughter  speak  to  me, 
Margaret  ? 

SYDNEY 

[Closing  with  her.'] 
You  see,  she  doesn't  enjoy  being  hinted  at  either. 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  9 

MARGARET 

[Between  the  upper  and  the  nether  millstone.1 
I  don't  know  what  you  mean,  Sydney,  but  don't! 

SYDNEY 

I  mean  that  I'm  not  going  to  let  Aunt  Hester  inter- 
fere in  my  affairs  like  she  does  in  yours.  That's  what 
I  mean. 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

These  are  the  manners  they  teach  you  at  your  fine 
school,  I  suppose. 

SYDNEY 

Never  mind,  auntie,  I've  had  my  lessons  in  the  holi- 
days too.  You  needn't  think  I  haven't  watched  the 
life  you've  led  mother  over  this  divorce  business. 

MARGARET 

[Distressed  at  the  discussion.l 
Sydney !     Sydney ! 

SYDNEY 

[Remorselessly.} 

Well,  hasn't  she?  What  prevented  you  from  marry- 
ing Gray  ages  ago?  Father's  been  out  of  his  mind 
long  enough,  poor  man !  You  knew  you  were  free  to 
be  free.  You  knew  you  were  making  Gray  miserable 
and  yourself  miserable  —  and  yet,  though  that  di- 
vorce law  has  been  in  force  for  years,  it's  taken  you 
all  this  time  to  fight  your  scruples.  At  least,  you  call 
them  scruples !  What  you  really  mean  is  Aunt  Hes- 
ter and  her  prayer  book.  And  now,  when  you  have  at 
last  consented  to  give  yourself  a  chance  of  being  happy 


10  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

—  when  it's  Christmas  Day  and  you're  going  to  be 
married  at  New  Year's  —  still  you  let  Aunt  Hester 
sit  at  your  own  breakfast  table  and  insult  you  with 
talk  about  deadly  sin.  It's  no  use  pretending  you 
didn't,  auntie,  because  mother  left  my  door  open  and 
I  heard  you. 

MARGARET 

[With  a  certain  dignity.'] 
Sydney,  I  can  take  care  of  myself. 

SYDNEY 

[Obvious  of  it.] 

Take  care  of  yourself!  As  if  everybody  didn't  ride 
roughshod  over  you  when  I'm  not  there. 

MARGARET 

Yes,  but  my  pet,  you  mustn't  break  out  like  this. 
Of  course  your  aunt  knows  you  don't  really  mean  to 
be  rude  — 

SYDNEY 

I  do  mean  to  be  rude  to  her  when  she's  rude  to 
you. 

MARGARET 

My  dear,  you  quite  misunderstood  your  aunt. 

SYDNEY 

Oh,  no,  I  didn't,  mother! 

'Margaret  shrugs  her  shoulders  helplessly  and  sits  down 
on  the  sofa  to  the  left  of  the  fireplace'.'] 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

[Rising.] 
I'm  afraid  you'll  have  to  go  to  church  without  me. 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  ii 

Margaret.  I'm  thoroughly  upset.  You've  brought  up 
your  daughter  to  ignore  me,  and  I  know  why.  I'm 
the  wrong  side  of  the  family.  I'm  the  one  person  in 
this  house  who  remembers  poor  Hilary.  I  shall  read 
the  service  in  the  drawing-room. 

[She  goes  out.'] 

SYDNEY 

[Looking  after  her.} 
She  owes  me  something.     She's  been  dying  for  an 
excuse,  with  that  cold. 

[She  turns  to  the  sofa  and  says  more  gently.] 
What's  the  use  of  crying,  mother?     If  Gray  finds 
out  there'll  be  a  row,  and  then  Aunt  Hester'll  be  sorry 
she  ever  was  born. 

MARGARET 

It  isn't  that.  You  get  so  excited,  Sydney !  You  re- 
mind me  —  your  father  was  so  excitable.  I  don't 
like  to  see  it. 

SYDNEY 

I'm  not  really.  I  needn't  let  myself  go  if  I  don't 
want  to. 

MARGARET 

You  mustn't  get  impatient  with  your  aunt.  She 
can't  get  accustomed  to  the  new  ways,  that's  all.  I  — 
I  can't  myself,  sometimes. 

[Restlessly.] 

I  hope  I'm  doing  right. 

SYDNEY 

Oh,  I   do  think  it's  morbid  to  have  a  conscience. 


12  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

If  father  had  been  dead  fifteen  years,  would  you  say 
"  I  hope  I'm  doing  right "  ?  And  he  is  dead.  His 
mind's  dead.  You  know  you've  done  all  you  can. 
And  you're  frightfully  in  love  with  Gray  — 

MARGARET 

[Flushing.^ 
Don't,  Sydney! 

SYDNEY 

Well,  you  are,  and  so  he  is  with  you.  So  what's 
the  worry  about?  Aunt  Hester!  What  people  like 
Aunt  Hester  choose  to  think!     I  call  it  morbid. 

MARGARET 

[Whimsically.l 
I  suppose  I  haven't  brought  you  up  properly.     Your 
aunt's  quite  right. 

SYDNEY 

Yes.  That's  what  it  always  comes  back  to.  "  Your 
aunt's  quite  right !  "  I  can  argue  with  you  by  the 
hour  — 

MARGARET 

[Hastily.'] 
Oh,  not  this  morning,  darling,  will  you? 

SYDNEY 

—  and  Gray  can  argue  with  you  by  the  hour  — 

MARGARET 

[^Smiling.'] 
Ah,  but  he  never  does. 

SYDNEY 

—  and  you  pretend  to  agree  with  us ;  but  underneath 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  13 

your    common    sense    your    mind's    really    thinking: 
"  Your  aunt's  quite  right !  " 

MARGARET 

She  stands  for  the  old  ways,  Sydney. 

SYDNEY 

She  stands  for  Noah  and  the  flood.  She'd  no  busi- 
ness to  go  dragging  up  father  and  the  divorce  on 
Christmas  morning  to  upset  you. 

MARGARET 

It  wasn't  your  aunt. 

SYDNEY 

Then  it  was  me,  I  suppose !  "  If  I  could  only  con- 
trol my  tongue  and  my  temper  "  and  all  the  rest  of  it ! 

MARGARET 

\_Quictly.'] 
No,  it  was  about  Kit. 

SYDNEY 

Kit?  Oh,  that's  all  right,  mother.  Don't  you 
worry  about  me  and  Kit. 

MARGARET 

I  do. 

SYDNEY 

You  needn't. 

MARGARET 

[Shyly.'] 
You  see,  I  thought  I  was  in  love  at  seventeen  too. 

SYDNEY 

Oh,  but  I  quite  know  what  I'm  doing. 


14  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

MARGARET 

And  now  I  know  I  didn't  know  much  about  it.  I 
don't  want  you  to  be  —  rushed. 

SYDNEY 

Nobody  could  make  me  do  what  I  didn't  want  to  do. 

MARGARET 

[Forgetting  Sydney.'] 
It  was  nobody's  fault.     It  was  the  war  — 
[SJie  sits,  dreaming.] 

SYDNEY 

It's  extraordinary  to  me  - —  whenever  you  middle- 
aged  people  want  to  excuse  yourselves  for  anything 
you've  done  that  you  know  you  oughtn't  to  have  done, 
you  say  it  was  the  war.  How  could  a  war  make  you 
get  married  if  you  didn't  want  to? 

MARGARET 

[Groping  for  words.] 
It  was  the  feel  in  the  air.  They  say  the  smell  of 
blood  sends  horses  crazy.  That  was  the  feel.  One  did 
mad  things.  Hilary  —  your  father  —  he  was  going 
out  —  the  trenches  —  to  be  hurt.  And  he  was  so  fond 
of  me  he  frightened  me.  I  was  so  sorry.  I  thought 
I  cared.     Can't  you  understand? 

SYDNEY 

No.     Either  you  care  or  you  don't. 

MARGARET 

[Passionately.] 
How  can  you  know  until  it  happens  to  you?     How 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  15 

was  I  to  know  there  was  more  to  it  than  keeping 
house  and  looking  after  Hilary  —  and  you?  How 
was  I  to  know? 

SYDNEY 

[Doubtfully.'] 
Is  there  so  much  more  to  it? 

MARGARET 

Yes. 

SYDNEY 

I  don't  believe  there  is  for  some  people.  Why,  it's 
just  what  I  want  —  to  look  after  Kit  and  a  house  of 
my  own  and  —  oh,  at  least  half  a  dozen  kids. 

MARGARET 
[Uncomfortably.'] 
Sydney,  dear! 

SYDNEY 

Oh,  Kit's  as  keen  as  I  am  on  eugenics.  He's  doing  a 
paper  for  his  debating  society. 

MARGARET 

Well,  I  found  you  quite  enough  to  manage. 

SYDNEY 

[Leaning  over  the  back  of  the  sofa.] 
I  believe  you  were  scared  of  me  when  I  was  little  — 
[Margaret  7iods.] 
—  and  even  now  — 

MARGARET 

[Quickly.] 
What? 


i6  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

SYDNEY 

IQuite  good-humored  about  x7.] 
Well,  if  you  had  to  choose  between  me  and  Gray,  it 
wouldn't  be  Gray  who'd  lose  you. 

MARGARET 

[Confronted  with  the  idea-l 
I  hope  I'd  do  what's  right. 

SYDNEY 

[Airily. '\ 
There  you  are ! 

MARGARET 

[As  it  goes  home.} 
It's  not  true.     You've  no  right  to  make  me  out  a 
heartless  mother.     But  — 

SYDNEY 

[Her  arm  round  her  mother's  neck.] 
Well  —  heartless  mother? 

MARGARET 

[Clutching  at  the  arm.'] 
Oh,    Sydney  —  what    should    I    do    if    Gray  —  if 
Gray  — 

SYDNEY 

It's  all  right,  mother ! 

[There  is  the  sound  of  a  motor  driving  up.] 
There  is  Gray. 

MARGARET 

[Jumping  up  hurriedly.] 
Oh,  and  I'm  not  dressed.     Say  I'll  be  down  in  a 
minute. 

[She  runs  upstairs.] 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  17 

SYDNEY 

You've  plenty  of  time.     The  bells  haven't  begun  yet. 

MARGARET 

[From  the  gallery.'] 

Tell  Bassett  to  clear  away. 

[Sydney  rings  the  hell.     The  elderly  parlor  maid-  enters 
through  the  baize  door.] 

BASSETT 

Yes,  miss? 

SYDNEY 

You  can  clear  away,  Bassett. 

[While  she  is  speaking  Gray  Meredith  comes  in  through 
the  hall  door.  He  is  about  forty,  tall,  dark,  and  quiet, 
very  sure  of  himself,  and  quite  indifferent  to  the  ef- 
fect he  makes  on  other  people.  As  he  is  a  man  who 
never  has  room  in  his  head  for  more  than  one  idea 
at  a  time,  and  as,  for  the  last  five  years,  that  idea  has 
been  Margaret,  the  rest  of  the  world,  doesn't  get  much 
out  of  him.  But  mention  her  and  he  behaves  exactly 
like  a  fire  being  poked.'] 

GRAY 

[Putting  down  the  box  he  carries.] 
Where's  your  mother? 

SYDNEY 

[Folding  her  hands.] 

Good  morning,  dear  Sydney !  A  merry  Christmas 
to  you  and  so  many  thanks  for  the  tie  that,  with  the 
help  of  your  devoted  aunt,  you  so  thoughtfully  — 


i8  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

GRAY 

Stop  it,  there's  a  good  child !  I  haven't  missed  her, 
have  I ? 

SYDNEY 

Pray  accept  in  return  as  a  small  token  of  esteem  and 
total  dependency  — 

GRAY 

I  asked  you  if  your  mother  had  started. 

SYDNEY 

[In  her  natural  voice.} 
It's  true,  you  know.     You  simply  daren't  cope  with 
me  yet. 

GRAY 

[Twinkling  in  spite  of  himself.'] 
H'm !     A  time  will  come  — 

SYDNEY 

Wouldn't  it  warm  the  cockles  of  Aunt  Hester's  heart 
to  hear  you!  What  are  cockles.  Gray?  Gray,  she 
says  I  ought  to  call  you  uncle!  Gray,  d'you  think 
you've  brought  me  what  I  think  you  have  for  a  Christ- 
mas present? 

GRAY 

You'd  better  go  and  look.  It's  in  the  motor  with 
Kit. 

SYDNEY 

It? 

GRAY 

He. 

SYDNEY 

By  Viscount  out  of  Vixen? 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  19 

GRAY 

Really,  Sydney! 

SYDNEY 

Dear  Uncle  Hester? 

GRAY 

Yes,  but  Sydney  —  ? 

SYDNEY 

lAt  the  door.'] 
Oh,  didn't  I  tell  you?     Mother  says  she'll  be  down 
in  a  minute. 

[^She  lets  in  the  sound  of  the  church  bell  as  she  goes  ou^] 

[^Gray  walks  about  the  room;  then,  going  to  the  foot  of  the 

staircase,  he  calls  softly.'} 

Margaret ! 

\_He  waits  a  moment:  then  he  calls  again.'] 

Margaret ! 

[He  listens,  takes  another  turn  about  the  room,  then,  com- 
ing back  to  the  staircase,  stands  leaning  against  the 
foot  of  the  balusters.  Margaret  comes  softly  down 
the  stairs  and  bending  over  puts  her  hands  on  his 
shoulders.] 

MARGARET 

A  merry  Christmas ! 

GRAY 

[Turning  round  and  kissing  her.] 
And  a  happy  New  Year! 

MARGARET 

It  will  be  —  oh,  it  will  be ! 


20  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

GRAY 

I  almost  think  it  will  sometimes. 

[Holding  her  at  arm's  length.'} 
New  frock? 

MARGARET 

Like  it? 

GRAY 

Oh,  I've  seen  it  already. 

MARGARET 

Why,  it's  the  first  time  I've  put  it  on. 

GRAY 

[Untying  the  box  on  the  table  as  he  speaks.} 

Sydney  carted  it  along  with  her  last  week  when  we 
went  to  choose  —  this. 

MARGARET 

[Like  a  child  with  a  new  toy.} 
For  me,  Gray? 

GRAY 

Looks  like  it. 

MARGARET 

Oh,  I  hope  you  haven't  been  extravagant. 

GRAY 

[Opening  the  lid.} 
Well,  Sydney  said  — 

MARGARET 

Silver  fox !     Oh,  my  dear,  you  shouldn't ! 

GRAY 

Put  'em  on.     Sydney's  quite  a  wise  child. 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  21 

MARGARET 

[Ltixurioiisly.} 
Oh,  I  do  love  being  spoiled. 

GRAY 

You  haven't  had  so  much  of  it,  have  you,  Meg? 

MARGARET 

[With  a  complete  change  of  manner.'] 
Don't ! 

GRAY 

What? 

MARGARET 

Don't  call  me  Meg. 

GRAY 

Why  not? 

MARGARET 

You  never  have  before. 

GRAY 

Don't  you  see,  I  want  a  name  for  you  that  no  one 
else  uses. 

MARGARET 

[^Close  to  him.] 
Yes,  yes,  that  no  one  else  has  ever  used.     Not  Meg. 
Not  Margaret.     Make  a  name  of  your  own  for  me  — 
new  —  new. 

GRAY 

Well,   you're   getting   one   new    name   pretty   soon, 
anyhow. 

MARGARET 

Yes.     New  Year  —  new  name  —  new  life. 

[/h  his  arms.] 
Oh,  Gray,  is  thirty-five  very  old? 


22  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

GRAY 

Not  when  you  say  it. 

MARGARET 

Oh,  Gray,  we've  time  for  everything  still? 

GRAY 

Time  for  everything. 

\_He  laughs.'] 

Except  church,  my  child!     Do  you  really  insist  on 
going  ? 

MARGARET 

Aunt  Hester  will  be  horrified  if  I  don't.     Besides  — 

IShe  comes  back  to  the  table  and  begins  putting  the 
papers  together.'] 

GRAY 

What  ? 

MARGARET 

I  suppose  you'll  think  me  a  fool  — 

GRAY 

Shall  I? 

MARGARET 

Oh,  Gray,  for  the  first  time  in  my  life  I'm  happy. 
I  want  to  say  — 

GRAY 

What  does  she  want  to  say? 

MARGARET 

"  Humble  and  hearty  thanks  — " 

\_Sydney  runs  in  with  a  puppy  in  her  arms.  She  is  fol- 
lowed by  Kit.  Kit  is  a  good-looking,  fair-haired  boy 
who  may  be  tzucnty-two,  but  is  nevertheless  much 
younger  than  Sydney,  zvhom  he  takes  as  seriously  as 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  23 

he  takes  everything  else  in  life.  It  is  part  of  her 
charm  for  him  that  he  finds  it  a  little  ditficidt  to  keep 
up  with  her.] 

SYDNEY 

Mother  !     Mother  !     Look  what  Gray's  brought  me ! 

MARGARET 

Oh,  Sydney,  your  aunt  isn't  fond  of  dogs.     Merry 
Christmas,  Kit ! 

KIT 

Merry  Christmas,  Mrs.  Fairfield! 

SYDNEY 

Yes,  but  isn't  he  an  angel?     And  Kit's  given  me  a 
collar  for  him. 

[She  goes  up  to  Gray.~\ 

You  know,  Gray,  it's  so  sweet  of  you  that  in  return 
I'll  — 

GRAY 

Well  ? 

SYDNEY 

[Cofispiratorially.'] 
Make  Kit  late  for  church  if  you  like. 

GRAY 

[Putting  himself  in  her  hands.} 
I  did  promise  him  a  lift. 

SYDNEY 

[Settling  it.} 
He  can  cut  across  the  fields, 
[Aloud.] 
Kit,  what  about  a  bone  for  the  angel?     You  might 
go  and  make  love  to  Bassett. 


24  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

[She  puts  the  dog  into  his  arms.     They  stroll  off  together 
into  the  inner  roomJ] 

KIT 

[Earnestly,  as  he  goes  out  through  the  baize  door.'\ 
He  ought  to  be  kept  to  biscuits. 

SYDNEY 

[Calling  to  him.'\ 
Just  one  to  gnaw. 

[Then,  over  her  shoulder.'] 
Mother,  the  bells  have  been  going  quite  a  while. 

MARGARET 

[To  Gray.']  >■ 

Listen,  don't  you  love  them? 

GRAY 

Church  bells? 

MARGARET 

Wedding  bells. 

GRAY 

Margaret,  you've  stepped  straight  out  of  a  Trollope 
novel. 

MARGARET 

[Flushing.] 
I  suppose  you  think  I'm  sentimental. 

GRAY 

No,  but  you're  pure  nineteenth  century. 

MARGARET 

I'm  not. 

[Telephone  hell  rings.] 
Oh! 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  25 

GRAY 

There  goes  the  twentieth.     Don't  you   see  how   it 
makes  you  jump? 

\_Sydncy  has  gone  to  the  telephone.'] 

SYDNEY 

Hullo !     Hullo !  .  .  .  You  rang  me  up. 

\^She  hangs  up  the  receiver.] 

Sorry  you  have  been  trubbled !     And  it's  sure  to  be 
some  one  trying  to  get  on. 

GRAY 

On    Christmas    morning?     Hardly!     I    say,    come 
along!     The  bells  have  stopped. 

MARGARET 

[/n  a  strange  voice.] 
Yes,  they  stopped  when  that  other  bell  rang. 

SYDNEY 

Why,  mother,  what's  the  matter? 

MARGARET 

IBlindly.] 
They  stopped. 

SYDNEY 

I  told  you,  darling,  you're  late. 

MARGARET 

Give  me  my  furs.     I'm  cold. 

\_Gray  helps  her  on  with  them.] 

SYDNEY 

\_Protid  of  her.] 
They  are  lovely. 


26  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

MARGARET 

[At  the  door,  wistfully.'] 
It  isn't  too  good  to  be  true,  is  it? 

GRAY 

The  furs? 

MARGARET 

Everything !     You  —  oh,  what  a  fool  I  am ! 

[You  hear  Gray's  laugh  answering  hers  as  they  go  out  to- 
gether, and  the  sound  of  the  motor  driving  away.} 

SYDNEY 

[Subsiding  on  to  the  sofa,  to  Kit,  who  has  come  in  as  the 
others  go.] 

I  thought  they'd  never  get  off.  Mother  has  a  way 
of  standing  around  and  gently  fussing — I  tell  you 
I'll  be  glad  when  next  week's  over. 

KIT 

So'll  I.     I  haven't  had  a  look  in  lately. 

SYDNEY 

[With  an  intimate  glance.] 

Not  last  night?  But  it  has  been  a  job,  running 
mother.  I'm  bridesmaid  and  best  man  and  family 
lawyer  and  Juliet's  nurse  all  rolled  into  one  —  and  a 
sort  of  lightning  conductor  for  Aunt  Hester  into  the 
bargain.  That's  why  I've  had  so  little  time  for  you. 
It's  quite  true  what  Gray  was  saying  just  now  — 
Mother  is  nineteenth  century.  She's  sweet  and  help- 
less, but  she's  obstinate  too.  My  word,  the  time  she 
took  making  up  her  mind  to  get  that  divorce ! 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  27 

KIT 

It's  just  about  that  that  I've  been  wanting  to  talk 
to  you.     You  see  — 

SYDNEY 

Well? 

KIT 

You  see  — 

SYDNEY 

Hurry  up,  old  thing! 

KIT 

Well,  you  see,  when  I  got  home  last  night  the  gov- 
ernor was  sitting  up  for  me. 

SYDNEY 

He  would  be. 

KIT 

And  in  the  course  of  the  row  —  you  came  in  to  it. 

SYDNEY 

Oh,  but  he  likes  me. 

KIT 

Yes,   he   was  quite  soothed   when   I  said  we  were 
engaged. 

SYDNEY 

Liar! 

KIT 

[^SerenelyJ] 
Oh,  well  — 

SYDNEY 

\^Shc  finds  his  chuckle  infectious.'] 
What  did  he  say? 


28  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

KIT 

Oh,  lots  of  rot,  of  course,  about  being  too  young. 
But  he  was  quite  bucked  really  until  — 

SYDNEY 

Well? 

KIT 

Well,  I  was  a  fool.  I  said  something,  quite  by 
chance,  about  your  father.  Then  the  fur  began  to 
fly.  You  see,  it  seems  he  thought  your  mother  was 
a  widow  — 

SYDNEY 
[Ruffling  up.'] 
What's  it  got  to  do  with  him? 

KIT 

Well,  you  see  — 

SYDNEY 

If  you'd  only  make  me  see  instead  of  you  —  seeing 
me  all  the  time. 

KIT 

I'm  afraid  of  hurting  your  feelings. 

SYDNEY 

I'm  not  nineteenth  century. 

KIT 

[Desperately.'] 
Well,  my  people  are. 

SYDNEY 

Well  ? 

KIT 

That's  the  trouble  —  my  people  are!  Father 
promptly  began  about  not  seeing  his  way  to  — 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  29 

SYDNEY 

To  what,  Kit? 

KIT 

To  —  to  marrying  them. 

SYDNEY 

But  I've  never  heard  of  anything  so  crazy. 

KIT 

Of  course,  you  know,  there's  nothing  to  worry  about. 
There  are  heaps  of  clergymen  who  will. 

SYDNEY 

My  dear  boy,  if  mother  isn't  married  in  her  own 
parish  church  she'll  think  she's  living  in  sin. 

KIT 

Well,  there  it  is! 

SYDNEY 

But  look  here,  the  old  rector  knew  all  about  it.  Do 
you  mean  to  say  that  a  new  man  can  come  into  our 
parish  and  insult  mother  just  because  his  beastly  con- 
science doesn't  work  the  same  way  the  old  rector's 
did.     The  divorce  is  perfectly  legal. 

KIT 

[In  great  discomfort.} 
Yes,  father  knows  all  that. 

IHopefully.'] 
Of  course,  I  don't  see  myself  why  a  registry  office  — 

SYDNEY 

If  it  were  me  I'd  prefer  it.  Much  less  fuss.  But 
mother  wouldn't. 


30  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

KIT 

But  she  ought  to  see  — 

SYDNEY 

But  she  won't.  It's  no  good  reckoning  on  what  peo- 
ple ought  to  be.  You've  got  to  deal  with  them  as  they 
are. 

KIT 

\_Guiltily.'\ 
Well,  I'm  awfully  sorry. 

SYDNEY 

It's  no  use  being  sorry.     We've  got  to  do  something. 

KIT 

[Hopelessly.^ 
When  once  the  old  man  gets  an  idea  into  his  head  — 

SYDNEY 

He'd  better  not  let  it  out  in  front  of  mother. 
Gray'd  half  kill  him  if  he  did.  And  I  tell  you  this, 
Kit,  what  Gray  leaves  I'll  account  for,  even  if  he  is 
your  father.     Poor  little  mother! 

KIT 

Well,  I'm  all  on  your  side,  you  know  that.  But  of 
course,  Sydney,  a  clergyman  needn't  remarry  divorced 
people.  It's  in  that  bill.  The  governor  was  quoting  it 
to-day. 

SYDNEY 

But  doesn't  he  know  the  circumstances? 

KIT 

He  only  knows  what  I  do. 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  31 

SYDNEY 

One  doesn't  shout  things  at  people,  naturally.  But 
it's  nothing  to  be  ashamed  of.  It's  only  that  my  un- 
fortunate father's  been  in  an  asylum  ever  since  I  can 
remember.  Shell  shock.  It  began  before  I  was  born. 
He  never  came  home  again.  Mother  had  to  give  up 
going  to  see  him  even ;  it  excited  him  so  frightfully. 

KIT 

Pretty   tragic. 

SYDNEY 

Oh,  for  years  now  he  hasn't  known  any  one,  luck- 
ily.    And  he's  well  looked  after.     He's  quite  all  right. 

KIT 

[  Uncomfortably.'] 
You're  a  queer  girl. 

SYDNEY 

But  he  is. 

KIT 

Yes  —  but  — 

SYDNEY 

What? 

KIT 

Your  own  father  — 

SYDNEY 

llmpatiently.l 

My  dear  boy,  I've  never  even  seen  him.  Oh,  of 
course,  it's  very  sad,  but  I  can't  go  about  with  my 
handkerchief  to  my  eyes  all  the  time,  can  I? 

KIT 

Yes  —  but  — 


32  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

SYDNEY 

I  hate  cant. 

KIT 

\_Leaniug  over  the  back  of  the  sofa,  his  hands  playing 
with  her  chain.} 

You  little  brute  —  you're  as  hard  as  nails,  aren't 
you? 

SYDNEY 

\_Putting  up  her  face  to  him.'] 
Am  I? 

[They  kiss.} 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

[Passing  through.} 
Really,  Sydney !     Before  lunch ! 

KIT 

You  know,  old  thing,  sometimes  I  don't  feel  as  if  I 
should  ever  really  get  on  with  your  aunt. 

SYDNEY 

[Dimpling.} 
You'll  have  to  if  — 

KIT 

Good  Lord  !     You  don't  want  her  in  the  house  ! 

SYDNEY 

[Calmly.} 
I  must  take  her  off  mother  sometimes.     That's  only 
fair.     But  she  sha'n't  worry  you. 

KIT 

I  say,  you're  going  to  have  things  your  own  way, 
aren't  you? 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  33 

SYDNEY 

But  of  course  I  am,  darling. 

KIT 

[Heavily.'] 
But  look  here  —  marriage  is  a  sort  of  mutual  show, 
isn't  it?     We've  got  to  pull  together. 

SYDNEY 

Of  course. 

KIT 

But  suppose  we  come  to  a  crossroads,  so  to  speak  ? 

SYDNEY 

Well,  somebody'll  have  to  give  way,  won't  they, 
darling? 

KIT 

H'm ! 

SYDNEY 

My  dear  boy,  if  you  want  a  doormat  you'd  better 
look  out  for  some  one  —  some  one  like  poor  dear 
mother,  for  instance. 

KIT 

[Wiser  than  he  knows-l 
But  you  arc  like  her,  Sydney ! 

SYDNEY 

Me  ?  Do  you  think  I'd  let  my  daughter  run  me  the 
way  I  run  mother  ?     Not  much ! 

MISS  FAIRFIELD 

[Reentering. 1 

I  think  I  left  my  — 

[Murmurs.} 


34  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

SYDNEY 

[Aside.'] 
It's  no  good.     She's  doing  this  on  purpose  because 
I  cheeked  her.     You'd  better  go,  old  man.     Besides 
they  must  be  well  through  the  anthem. 

KIT 

IDisturbed-l 
Good  Lord  !     I  should  think  I  had  better  go ! 

SYDNEY 

[Going  to  the  door  with  him.} 
I  say,  keep  your  father  quiet  till  I've  had  time  to  talk 
to  Gray. 

KIT 


Right ! 


Kit! 


Yes. 


[He  goes  out.l 

SYDNEY 

[Calling.] 

KIT 

[Reappearing.'] 


SYDNEY 

Come  round  in  the  afternoon. 

KIT 

Right ! 

[He  goes  out.] 


SYDNEY 

[Calling.] 


Kit! 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  35 

KIT 

IReappearing.'] 
Yes. 

SYDNEY 

I  don't  suppose  there'll  ever  be  any  crossroads. 

KIT 

Darling ! 

[A  sciMe.    Sydney  reappears  patting  her  hair.l 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

I'm  afraid  I  disturbed  a  tete-a-tete. 

SYDNEY 

[^Sweetly.'] 
Oh,  auntie,  whatever  made  you  think  that? 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

But    I    really    couldn't    sit    in    the    drawing-room. 
There's  no  fire. 

\^She  sits  down  and  opens  her  hook.'] 

SYDNEY 

[/«  o  soft  little  voice,  hums.'] 
"  When  we  are  married  we'll  have  sausages  for  tea." 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

Do  you  mind  being  quiet  while  I  read  the  service? 

SYDNEY 

Sorry ! 

\^She  takes  up  some  knitting.] 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

What  are  you  doing? 

SYDNEY 

Tie  for  Kit. 


36  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

Sydney !     Needlework  on  Sunday ! 

SYDNEY 

Well,    I    can't    sit    in   the   drawing-room    either    if 
there's  no  fire. 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

There's  no  need  to  lose  your  temper. 

SYDNEY 

[Out  of  patience.'] 

Here,  I'm  going. 

\_As  she  makes  for  the  staircase  the  telephone  gives  a 
broken  tinkle.] 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

Sydney,  I  believe  that  telephone's  going  off ! 

SYDNEY 

Yes,    I'm    sure    it's    some    one    trying    to    get    on. 
They've  rung  up  once  already. 

MISS  FAIRFIELD 

Sydney,  I  won't  be  left  to  deal  with  it. 

[The  telephone  rings  deafcningly.] 
There,  I  told  you  so. 

SYDNEY 

Well,  it's  not  my  fault! 

[She  takes  off  the  receiver.] 
Hullo!     Hullo!  .  .  .  Yes.  .  .  .  Yes.  .  .  .  Yes.  .  .  . 

[To  her  aunt.] 
It's  a  trunk  call. 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  37 

MISS  F.URFIELD 

Who  on  earth  —  ? 

SYDNEY 

Yes.    .  .  .    Hullo!  .  .  .    Yes.  .  .  .    Mrs.   Fairfield's 
out.     Shall  I  take  a  message?  .  .  .  This  is  Miss  Fair- 
field speaking.  .  .  .  All  right,  I'll  hold  on.  .  .  . 
[To  her  aunt.'] 
Auntie,  it's  from  Bedford.     It's  about  father. 

[Into  the  telephone.'] 
Yes.  .  .  .  This    is    Miss    Fairfield    speaking.  .  .  . 
What?  .  .  .  Good  Lord! 

MISS  FAIRFIELD 

Sydney,  don't  say  "  Good  Lord !  " 

SYDNEY 

But  you  should  have  let  Mrs.  Fairfield  know !  .  .  . 
Only  this  morning?  Oh,  I  see.  .  .  .  No,  we've  heard 
nothing.  When  did  you  find  out?  .  .  .  What  makes 
you —  ?  I  see!  .  .  .  No,  he's  not  here.  ...  Of 
course  we'd  let  you  know.  .  .  .  Then  you'll  let  us 
know  at  once  if  anything  .  .  .  yes  .  .  .  Miss  Fair- 
field. Mrs.  Fairfield  is  going  away  very  soon.  .  .  . 
Thank  you.  .  .  .  Good-by. 

\_Sydney  hangs  up  the  receiver  and  turns  round.] 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

Well? 

SYDNEY 

Father's  got  away. 

MISS   F.MRFIELD 

What?     Who  spoke  to  you? 


38  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

SYDNEY 

The  head  man  —  what's  his  name  ?  Rogers ! 
Frightfully  upset. 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

I  should  think  so.  Why,  the  poor  fellow's  danger- 
ous. 

SYDNEY 

Apparently  he's  been  very  much  better  lately,  and 
this  last  week,  a  marked  change,  he  says. 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

[Agitated.'] 
You  mean  he's  getting  well? 

SYDNEY 

Looks  like  it.  Rogers  was  awfully  guarded  but  — 
apparently  they'd  already  written  to  Uncle  Hugh  and 
the  solicitors, 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

They  ought  to  have  written  to  me. 

SYDNEY 

Of  course,  they  wouldn't  write  to  mother  —  now 
—  but  we  ought  to  have  heard. 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

When  did  they  miss  him? 

SYDNEY 

This  morning.  Then  a  lot  about  it's  being  inexplic- 
able and  the  precautions  they  had  taken  and  so  on. 
The  fact  remains  that  he  has  managed  to  get  away. 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  39 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

It's  disgraceful  carelessness. 

SYDNEY 

Their  theory  is  that  he  has  suddenly  come  to  him- 
self. Is  it  possible,  auntie?  Can  it  happen?  After 
sixteen  years? 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

It's  quite  possible.  It  does.  It  was  the  same  with 
my  poor  sister,  Grace.     After  ten  years,  that  was. 

SYDNEY 

But  the  doctors  said  incurable. 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

The  Almighty's  greater  than  the  doctors.  And 
nerves  —  nerves  are  queer  things.  I  nursed  your 
Aunt  Grace.  Well,  I  always  told  your  mother  to 
wait. 

SYDNEY 

IStnick.'] 

Is  that  a  fact  about  Aunt  Grace?  Was  she  out  of 
her  mind  too? 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

She  never  had  to  be  sent  away. 

SYDNEY 

Nobody  ever  told  me. 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

There's  something  in  most  families. 

SYDNEY 

But  with  father  —  wasn't  it  shell  shock? 


40  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

It  was  brought  on  by  shell  shock. 

SYDNEY 

D'you  mean  that  in  our  family  there's  insanity? 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

[Fidgeting.l 

That's  not  the  way  to  talk.  But  we're  nervy,  all 
of  us,  we're  nervy.  Your  poor  father  would  have 
been  no  worse  than  the  rest  if  it  hadn't  been  for  the 
war. 

SYDNEY 

[Slowly.'l 
What  do  you  mean,  "  nervy  "  ? 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

[With  a  sidelong  glance.'] 
I  mean  the  way  you're  taking  this. 

SYDNEY 

[Sharply.'] 
How  am  I  taking  it? 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

[Irritated.] 
Well,  look  at  you  now. 

SYDNEY 

[Coldly.] 
I'm  perfectly  under  control. 

MISS  FAIRFIELD 

That's   it.     It's   not   natural. 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  41 

SYDNEY 

ISlowly.l 
You  mean,  I  shouldn't  bother  to  control  myself  if  — 

MISS  FAIRFIELD 

[Hastily.'] 
You're  too  young  to  think  about  such  things. 

SYDNEY 

—  if  I  weren't  afraid,  you  mean.     Did  mother  know 

—  when  she  married? 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

I  tell  you  there  are  troubles  in  every  family,  but  one 
doesn't  talk  about  them. 

SYDNEY 

But  did  she  know  the  trouble  was  insanity? 

MISS  FAIRFIELD 
[Shortly.] 
I  don't  know. 

SYDNEY 

Did  father? 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

One  always  knows  in  a  general  sort  of  way. 

SYDNEY 

[Relentlessly.'] 
Am  I  nervy? 

MISS  FAIRFIELD 

Young  people  don't  have  nerves. 

SYDNEY 

Insanity!     A  thing  you  can  hand  on!     And  I  told 
Kit  it  was  shell  shock ! 


42  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

MISS  FAIRFIELD 

I  don't  see  what  difference  it  makes  to  Christopher. 

SYDNEY 

You    don't    see    what    difference  —  ?    You    don't 
see — ? 

[To  herself.} 
But  I  see  — 

[There  is  a  pause. 1 

Aunt  Hester,  suppose  father  really  gets  well — ? 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

Well? 

SYDNEY 

Whatever  will  he  do? 

MISS  FAIRFIELD 

It's  a  question  of  what  your  mother  will  do. 

SYDNEY 

But  it  won't  have  anything  to  do  with  mother. 

MISS  FAIRFIELD 

[Grimly.} 
Won't  it? 

SYDNEY 

What  on  earth  are  you  driving  at  ? 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

I  can't  discuss  it  with  you. 

SYDNEY 

Why  not? 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  43 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

You're  too  young. 

SYDNEY 

I'm  old  enough  to  be  engaged. 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

You're  not  engaged. 

SYDNEY 

llnsolejitly.'] 

Kissed  then.  You  saw  that  half  an  hour  ago,  didn't 
you?  I  might  just  as  well  say  I  can't  discuss  it  with 
you  because  you're  too  old. 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

How  dare  you  speak  to  me  like  that? 

SYDNEY 

IBcside  herself. 1 

Oh,  are  all  old  people  such  stone  walls?  Here's  a 
shadow,  here's  a  trouble,  here's  a  ghost  in  the  house  — 
and  when  I  ask  you  what  shall  I  do,  you  talk  about 
your  blessed  dignity ! 

MISS  FAIRFIELD 
^Rising.'] 

This  is  the  second  time  in  one  morning  that  you 
have  driven  me  out  of  the  room. 

SYDNEY 
[^Ringing  her  hands.'] 

Well,  I'm  sorry !  But  I'm  so  worried.  Don't  you 
see  I've  got  to  keep  it  off  mother? 

IFollowing  her  irresolutcly.~\ 


44  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

Auntie,  if  you'd  only  be  decent  — 

[But  j\Iiss  Fairfield  has  gone  out.     Sydney  turns  back  into 
the  room.'] 

If  I  only  knew  what  to  do! 
[^Shc  stands  hesitating.  Then  she  goes  to  the  telephone: 
makes  a  movement  as  if  to  take  it  down  but  checks 
herself,  shaking  her  head.  She  comes  back  to  the 
sofa  at  last  and  flings  herself  down  on  it,  fidgeting 
with  the  cushions  and  frowning.  She  is  roused  by 
the  click  of  a  latch  as  the  French  window  in  the  inner 
room  is  softly  opened,  and  Hilary  Fairfield  steps 
over  the  threshold.  He  is  a  big,  fresh-colored  man 
with  gray  hair  and  bowed  shoulders.  In  speech  and 
movements  he  is  quick  and  jerky,  inclined-  to  be 
boisterous,  but  pathetically  easy  to  check.  This  he 
knows  himself  and  he  has,  indeed,  an  air  of  being 
always  in  rebellion  against  his  own  habit  of  obedi- 
ence. He  comes  in,  treading  softly,  his  bright  eyes 
dancing  zvith  excitement,  like  a  child  getting  ready 
to  spring  a  surprise  on  some  one.  Something  in 
the  fashion  of  the  empty  room  {for  he  does  not  see 
Sydney  crouching  in  the  cushions)  disconcerts  him. 
He  hesitates.  The  happy  little  smile  fades.  His  eye 
wanders  from  one  object  to  another  and  he  moves 
about,  recognizing  a  picture  here,  fingering  there  an 
unfamiliar  hanging,  as  it  were  losing  and  finding  him- 
self a  dozen  times  in  his  progress  round  the  room. 
He  comes  to  a  stand  at  last  before  the  fireplace, 
warming  his  hands.  Then  he  takes  out  a  pipe  and 
with  the  other  hand-  feels  absently  along  the  mantel- 
piece. Sydney,  who  has  been  watching  him  with  a 
sort  of  breathless  sympathy,  says  softly  — 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  45 

SYDNEY 

What  are  you  looking  for? 

HILARY 

They've  moved  my  — 

[With  a  start.'] 
Eh? 

[He  turns  sharply  and  sees  her.'] 

Meg!     It's  Meg! 

[With  a  rush.] 
Oh,  my  own  darling! 

SYDNEY 

IHer  confidence  in  her  power  to  deal  with  the  situation 
suddenly  gone.] 

I  —  I'm  not  Meg. 

HILARY 

\_Boisterously.] 
Not  Meg!     Tell  me  I  don't  know  Meg! 

[Sydtiey  gives  a  nervous  schoolgirl  giggle.] 
Eh? 

[Then,  his  voice  changing  completely.] 
No,  it's  not  Meg. 

\_Uneasily.] 

I  beg  your  pardon.     I  thought  you  were  —  another 
girl.     I've  been  away  a  long  time. 

SYDNEY 

Whom  do  you  want? 


46  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

HILARY 

\_Startled  again.'] 
There,  you  see,  it's  her  voice  too.     Who  are  you? 

SYDNEY 

IFencing.'] 
How  did  you  get  in? 

HILARY 

Tool-shed  gate. 

[Louder.} 
Who  are  you  ? 

SYDNEY 

Where  have  you  come  from? 

HILARY 

Bedford.     Took  a  car. 

[Lashing  himself  into  an  agitation.'] 
Who  are  you? 

SYDNEY 

Whom  do  you  want  to  see  ? 

HILARY 

[Losing  all  control.] 
Who  are  you? 

SYDNEY 

[Slowly.] 

I  think  I'm  your  daughter. 

[Hilary  stares  at  her  blankly.     Then  he  bursts  out 
laughing.] 

HILARY 

Daughter !     Daughter !     By  God,  that's  good !     My 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  47 

wife   isn't   my    wife,    she's    my   daughter!     And    my 
daughter's  seventeen  and  I'm  twenty-two. 

SYDNEY 

You're  forgetting  what  years  and  years  — 

HILARY 

Yes,  of  course.  It's  years  and  years.  It's  a  life- 
time. It's  my  daughter's  lifetime.  What's  your 
name  —  daughter  ? 

SYDNEY 

Sydney. 

HILARY 

Sydney.  Sydney,  eh?  My  mother  was  Sydney.  I 
like  Sydney.     I  — 

ICatching  at  his  dignity.'] 
I  suppose  we're  rather  a  shock  to  each  other  —  Syd- 
ney? 

SYDNEY 

No.     You're  not  a  shock  to  me.     But  I'm  afraid  — 

HILARY 

[^Breaking  in.'] 
Is  my —  ?     Is  your —  ?     Where's  Margaret? 

SYDNEY 

At  church. 

HILARY 

Back  soon,  eh? 

SYDNEY 

Yes,  that's  why  I'm  afraid  — 

HILARY 

[Unheeding.] 
I  might  go  to  meet  her,  eh? 


48  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

SYDNEY 

lQuickly.1 

Oh,  I  wouldn't.  Come  and  sit  down  and  wait  for 
her  and  taltc.     Talk  to  me. 

HILARY 

[Obediently.'] 
Very  well. 

(He  sits  down  beside  her  on  the  sofa.     They  look  at 
each   other.     He  says  shyly.} 

1  say,  isn't  this  queer? 

SYDNEY 

It  makes  me  want  to  cry. 

HILARY 

Why  ?  That's  all  over.  Laugh !  Laugh !  That's 
the  thing  to  do.  What  a  lovely  room  this  is.  Though 
I  can't  say  I  like  the  new  paper ;  or  the  curtains ! 

HILARY 

[Quickly.'] 
Yes,  I  liked  the  old  red  one  too  — 

[Then,  with  an  effort.] 

Those  —  aren't  —  the  only  changes.  Everything 
changes  — 

HILARY 

[Szviftly.] 

Bet  your  Aunt  Hester  hasn't,  eh? 

[They  look  at  each  other  and  laugh.] 

And  I  bet  you  —  I  say  —  is  your  mother  such  a 
darling  still? 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  49 

SYDNEY 

[Recalled   to    the   business   before   her,   brusquely.'] 
Look  here  —  father  — 

HILARY 

[Savoring  it.] 
"Father!     Father!"     Well? 

SYDNEY 

We've  got  to  talk.     We've  got  to  get  things  straight 
before  she  comes  back. 

HILARY 

[His  eye  and  his  attention  beginning  to  wander.'] 
Back  soon  —  eh?  Why  has  Meg  moved  the  clock? 
It  was  much  better  where  we  put  it.  Must  get  it  put 
back.  Nearly  one.  She's  late,  isn't  she  ?  I  —  I 
really  think,  you  know,  I'll  go  out  and  meet  your 
mother. 

SYDNEY 

[Authoritatively.] 
You're  to  stay  here. 

HILARY 

[Beginning  obediently.] 
Very  well  — 

[He  Hares  suddenly.] 
I'll  do  as  I  like  about  that. 

SYDNEY 

[Passionately.] 
I'll  not  have  you  frighten  her. 


50  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

HILARY 
I? 

[He  smiles  securely. '\ 

SYDNEY 

Can't  you  realize  what  the  shock  —  ? 

HILARY 

[BlissfuUy.'\ 
Never  known  any  one  die  of  joy  yet ! 

SYDNEY 

Father,  you  don't  understand !     You  and  mother  — 

HILARY 
[^Getting  irritated.'] 
Look  here,  this  is  nothing  to  do  with  you  — 

SYDNEY 

But  you  mustn't  — 

HILARY 

[Violently.] 

Now  I  tell  you  I'm  not  going  to  be  hectored.  I 
won't  stand  it.  I've  had  enough  of  it.  D'you  hear? 
I've  had  enough  of  it. 

SYDNEY 

[/n  the  same  tone.] 
If  you  talk  to  my  mother  like  this  — 

HILARY 

\_Softening.] 
Me?  understands. 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  51 

SYDNEY 

[Jcalously.l 
So  do  I  understand, 

HILARY 

I  believe  you  do.  You  got  wild  all  in  a  moment. 
That's  my  way  too.  It  means  nothing.  Meg  can't 
see  that  it  means  nothing.  But  it  makes  a  man  wild, 
you  know,  to  be  dragooned  when  he's  as  sane  as  — 
My  God,  I  am  sane!  That's  all  over,  isn't  it?  I  am 
sane.     Daughter ! 

SYDNEY 

[Watching  him.'] 
Father  ? 

HILARY 

Don't  let  me  get  —  that  way.  It's  bad.  Help  me 
to  go  slow.  I'm  as  well  as  you  are,  you  know.  But 
it's  new.  It  only  happened  to-day  —  like  a  curtain 
lifting. 

[Confidentially.'] 

You  see  I  was  standing  in  the  garden  — 

SYDNEY 

I  can't  conceive  how  you  got  away. 

HILARY 

Led,  like  Peter,  out  of  prison.  I  went  through  the 
gate,  openly.     Their  eyes  were  blinded. 

[With  a  complete  change  of  tone.] 

Pure  luck,  you  know.  There  were  visitors  going  out 
—  and  I  nipped  along  with  them,  talking.  No  one 
spotted    me.     I    wouldn't    have    believed    it    possible. 


52  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

Heaps   of   us  —  of   them,   I   mean  —  have   tried,   you 
know. 

SYDNEY 

But  you'd  no  money. 

HILARY 

llVhimsically.'] 
1  took  the  first  taxi  I  saw.     Promised  him  double. 
He's  at  the  lower  gate  now,  waiting  to  be  paid. 

SYDNEY 
[Jumping  up.'] 

Father,  dear!  Ticking  away  the  tuppences  !  We're 
not  millionaires ! 

HILARY 

ICarelessly.] 

Your  mother'll  see  to  it. 

[Somid  of  a  motor  horn.'] 

That's  him!  I  suppose  he's  got  tired  of  waiting  and 
come  round. 

SYDNEY 

No,  no!  That'll  be  mother.  You  mustn't  stop 
here.  You  must  let  me  tell  her.  You  must  let  me  tell 
her  first. 

[She  goes  out  hurriedly.] 

HILARY 

[Shaken.] 
Your  mother,   is  it?     Your  mother,   eh?     Here  — 
child  —  a  minute,  give  me  a  minute ;  give  me  a  minute  I 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  53 

MARGARET 

[As  she   comes  in.'] 
No  —  he  couldn't.     But  he's  coming  round  directly 
after  lunch  —  Hilary ! 

HILARY 

[Like  a  man  who  can't  see.] 
Meg!     Is  it  Meg?     Meg,  I've  come  home. 

MARGARET 

\_Terrified.'] 
Sydney,  don't  go  away ! 

SYDNEY 

It's  all  right,  mother! 

HILARY 

Meg! 

MARGARET 

But  they  said  —  they  said  —  incurable.  They 
shouldn't  have  said  —  incurable. 

HILARY 

What  does  it  matter?  I'm  well.  I'm  well,  Meg!  I 
tell  you  —  it  came  over  me  like  a  lantern  flash  —  like 
a  face  turning  to  you.  I  was  in  the  garden,  you  know 
—  lost.  I  was  a  lost  soul  —  outcast !  No  hope.  I 
can  never  make  any  one  understand.  I  was  never  like 
the  rest  of  them.  I  was  sane,  always ;  but  —  the  face 
was  turned  away. 

SYDNEY 

What  face? 

HILARY 

The  face  of  God. 


54  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

MARGARET 

Sydney  —  is  he  —  ? 

SYDNEY 

It's  all   right,   mother!     That   isn't  madness.     He's 
come  to  himself. 

MARGARET 

Then  —  then  —  what  am  I  to  do  ? 

HILARY 

What's  that? 

[He  comes  nearer.'] 

MARGARET 
I  — I— 

HILARY 

[Staring  at  her.'] 
You    don't    say    a    word.     One    would    think    you 
weren't  glad  to  see  me.     Aren't  you  glad  to  see  me? 

MARGARET 

Of  course  —  glad  —  you  poor  Hilary! 

HILARY 

If  you  knew  what  it  is  to  say  to  myself  —  I'm  at 
home  !     That  place  —  ! 

MARGARET 

[Mechanically.'] 
Oh,  but  there  was  every  comfort. 

HILARY 

Hell !     Hell ! 

MARGARET 

[Insisting.] 
But  they  were  good  to  you? 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  55 

HILARY 

Good  enough. 

MARGARET 

[In  acute  distress.'] 
They  didn't  — ill  treat  —  ? 

SYDNEY 

Mother,  you  know  you  did  the  very  best  — 

HILARY 

If  it  had  been  heaven  —  what  difference  does  it 
make?  I  was  a  dead  man.  Do  you  know  what  the 
dead  do  in  heaven?  They  sit  on  their  golden  chairs 
and  sicken  for  home.     Why  did  you  never  come? 

MARGARET 

They  wouldn't  let  me.     It  made  you  worse. 

HILARY 

Because  I  wanted  you  so. 

MARGARET 

But  you  didn't  know  me. 

HILARY 

My  voice  didn't  —  and  my  speech  and  my  actions 
didn't.  But  /  knew  you.  Meg  —  behind  the  curtain 
—  behind  the  dreams  and  the  noises,  and  the  aban- 
donment of  God  —  I  wanted  you.  I  wanted  —  I 
wanted  — 

[He  puts  his  hand  to  his  head.] 

Look  here  —  we  mustn't  talk  of  these  things.  It's 
not  safe,  I  tell  you.  When  I  talk  I  see  a  black  hand 
reaching  up  through  the  floor  —  do  you  see  ?  —  there 


56  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

—  through  the  widening  crack  of  the  floor  —  to  catch 
me  by  the  ankle  and  drag  —  drag  — 

SYDNEY 

Father  —  father  —  go  slow ! 

MARGARET 

[Terrified.'] 
Sydney ! 

SYDNEY 

It's  all  right,  mother!     We'll  manage. 

HILARY 

[Turning  to  her.'] 
Yes,  you  tell  your  mother.  I'm  all  right !  You  un- 
derstand that,  don't  you?  Once  it  was  a  real  hand. 
Now  I  know  it's  in  my  mind.  I  tell  you,  Meg,  I'm 
well.  But  it's  not  safe  to  think  back  —  yet.  Not  safe 
to  think  about  anything  but  —  Oh,  my  dear,  the  holly 
and  the  crackle  of  the  fire  and  the  snow  like  a  veil  of 
peace  on  me  —  and  you  like  the  snow  —  so  still  — 
[He  comes  to  her  with  outstretched  arms.] 

MARGARET 

[Faintly.] 
No  —  no  —  no  —  ! 

HILARY 

[Exalted.] 
Yes  —  yes  —  yes ! 

[He  catches  her  to  him.] 

MARGARET 

For  pity's  sake,  Hilary —  ! 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  57 

BASSETT 

lEntering.} 
Lunch  is  served,  ma'am! 

MARGARET 

IHelplessly.} 
Sydney  — 

SYDNEY 

Lay  an  extra  cover.     This  —  my  —  this  gentleman 
is  staying  to  lunch. 

HILARY 

IBoisterously.l 
Staying  to  lunch!  to  lunch!  That's  a  good  joke, 
isn't  it?  I  say,  listen!  I'm  laughing.  Do  you  know, 
I'm  laughing?  It's  blessed  to  laugh.  Staying  to 
lunch  !  Yes,  my  girl !  Lunch  and  tea  and  supper  and 
breakfast,  thank  God !  and  for  many  a  long  day ! 

Curtain 


ACT  II 

The  curtain  rises  on  Margaret's  drawing-room.  It  is 
prettily  furnished  in  a  gentle,  white-walled,  water- 
color-in-gold-frame  fashion  and  is  full  of  flowers. 
In  one  corner  is  a  parrot  in  a  cage,  and  near  it  Miss 
Fairfield's  armchair  and  footstool  and  worktable. 
The  fireplace  has  a  white  sheepskin  in  front  of  it, 
and  brass  fire  irons;  on  the  mantelpiece  is  a  gilt 
clock  and  many  photographs.  At  right  angles  to  the 
fire  a  low  Empire  couch  runs  out  into  the  room. 
There  is  a  hint  of  Sydney  in  the  idtra-modern  cush- 
ionry  with  zvhich  it  is  piled.  As  the  curtain  goes  up 
Bassett  is  showing  in  Gray  Meredith. 

BASSETT 

They're  still  at  lunch,  sir. 

GRAY 

\_Glancing  at  the  clock.^ 
They're  late. 

BASSETT 

It's  the  visitor,  sir.     He's  kept  them  talking. 

GRAY 

Visitor? 

BASSETT 

Yes,  sir,  a  strange  gentleman.     Will  you  take  coffee, 
sir? 

GRAY 

I  may  as  well  go  in  and  have  it  with  them. 
58 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  59 

BASSETT 

The  mistress  said,  would  you  not,  sir.     She'd  come 
to  you. 

GRAY 

lA  little  surprised.} 
Oh,  very  well. 

BASSETT 

I'll  tell  Aliss  Sydney  you've  come,  sir. 

GRAY 

[Lifting  his  eyebrows.} 
Tell  Mrs.  Fairfield. 

BASSETT 

'Miss  Sydney  said  I  was  to  tell  her  too,  sir,  quietly. 

GRAY 

IPusded.l 
Is—  ? 

[He  checks  an  impulse  to  question  the  servant.} 
All  right ! 

BASSETT 

Thank  you,  sir. 
[She  goes  out,  leaving  the  door  open.     There  is  a  slight 
pause.     Margaret    comes   in   hurriedly,    shutting    the 
door  behind  her.} 

GRAY 

[Smiling.} 
Well,  what's  the  mystery? 

MARGARET 

Gray,  he's  come  back ! 


6o  A  BILL  OF  DnORCEMENT 

GRAY 

Who? 

MARGARET 

Hilary. 

GRAY 

[Lightly.'] 
Hilary?     What  Hilary? 

[Realizing.'] 

Hilary! 

MARGARET 

Yes. 

GRAY 

Good  God ! 

MARGARET 

He  got  away.  He  came  straight  here.  I  found 
him  with  Sydney. 

GRAY 

Don't  be  frightened.     I'm  here.     Is  he  dangerous? 

MARGARET 

No,  no,  poor  fellow ! 

GRAY 

You  can't  be  sure.  Anyway,  I'd  better  take  charge 
of  him  while  you  'phone  the  asylum.  No,  that  won't 
do,  there  are  no  trains.     We  must  ring  up  the  police. 

MARGARET 

Oh,  no,  Gray ! 

GRAY 

It's  not  pleasant,  but  it's  the  only  thing  to  do. 

MARGARET 

You  don't  understand. 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  61 

GRAY 

There's  only  one  way  to  deal  with  an  escaped  lunatic. 

MARGARET 

But  — he's  not.     He's   well. 

GRAY 

What's  that? 

MARGARET 

He's  well.     He  knows  me.     He  — 

GRAY 

I  don't  believe  it. 

MARGARET 

Do  you  think  I  want  to  believe  it?     Oh,  what  a 
ghastly  thing  to  say  ! 

GRAY 

This  has  nothing  to  do  with  you.     He  has  nothing 
to  do  with  you.     Leave  me  to  deal  with  him. 
[He  goes  toward  the  door.'] 

MARGARET 

Where  are  you  going? 

GRAY 

'Phoning  for  Dr.  Alliot  to  begin  with. 

MARGARET 

Sydney's  done  that  already. 

GRAY 

Sydney's  head's  on  her  shoulders. 

MARGARET 

He'll  be  here  as  soon  as  he  can.     He  could  always 
manage  Hilary. 


62  A  BILL  OF  DHORCEMENT 

GRAY 

You'd  better  go  up  to  your  room. 

MARGARET 

No. 

GRAY 

Don't  take  it  too  hard.  It'll  be  over  in  an  hour. 
We'll  get  him  away  quietly. 

MARGARET 

But  it's  no  good,  Gray,  he's  well.  We've  been  on 
to  the  asylum  already.  They  say  we  should  have 
heard  in  a  day  or  two  even  if  he  hadn't  got  away. 

GRAY 

Really  well? 

MARGARET 

The  old  Hilary  —  voice  and  ways  and  —  oh,  my 
God,  what  am  I  to  do? 

GRAY 

Do  ?     You  ? 

MARGARET 

Don't  you  see?  He  knows  nothing.  His  hair's 
gray  and  he  talked  as  he  talked  at  twenty.  It's  hor- 
rible. 

GRAY 

What  do  you  mean,  he  knows  nothing? 

MARGARET 

About  the  divorce.  About  you  and  me.  He  thinks 
it's  all  —  as  he  left  it. 

GRAY 

[Incredulously.'} 
You've  said  nothing? 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  63 

MARGARET 

He's  like  a  lost  child  come  home.     Do  you  think  T 
want  to  send  him  crazy  again?     He  — 

GRAY 

[With  a  certain  anger.} 
You've  said  nothing? 

MARGARET 

Not  yet. 

GRAY 

You'll  come  away  with  me  at  once, 

MARGARET 

I  can't.     I've  got  to  think  of  Hilary. 

GRAY 

You've  got  to  think  of  me. 

MARGARET 

I  am  you.     But  I've  done  him  so  much  injury  — 

GRAY 

You've  done  Fairfield  injury?     You  little  saint! 

MARGARET 

Saint?  I'm  a  wicked  woman.  I'm  wishing  he 
hadn't  got  well.  I'm  wishing  the  doctors  will  say  it's 
not  true.  In  my  wicked  heart  I'm  calling  down  desola- 
tion on  my  own  husband. 

GRAY 

You  have  no  husband.  You're  marrying  me  in  a 
week.     You're  mine. 

MARGARET 

I'm  afraid  — 


64  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

GRAY 

Whose  are  you?     Answer  me. 

MARGARET 

Yours. 

GRAY 

You  know  it? 

MARGARET 

I  know  it. 

GRAY 

Then  never  be  afraid  again. 

MARGARET 

No,  not  when  you're  here.  I'm  not  afraid  when 
you're  here.  But  I  must  be  good  to  Hilary.  You  see 
that? 

GRAY 

What  "  good  "  is  good  to  him,  poor  devil? 

MARGARET 

At  least  I'll  break  it  gently. 

GRAY 

Gently !  That's  just  like  a  woman.  All  you  can 
do  for  him  is  to  come  away  now. 

MARGARET 

How  can  I  ?     He's  got  to  be  told. 

GRAY 

Then  let  me  tell  him. 

MARGARET 

No,  no !  From  you,  just  from  you,  it  would  be  wan- 
ton.    I  won't  have  cruelty. 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  65 

GRAY 

We'll  go  straight  up  to  town  and  get  married  at  once. 
That'll  settle  everything. 

MARGARET 

You  mustn't  rush  me.     I've  got  to  do  what's  right. 

GRAY 

It  is  right.  There's  nothing  else  to  be  done.  You 
can't  stay  here. 

MARGARET 

No,  I  can't  stay  here.     Don't  let  me  stay  here ! 

GRAY 

Come  with  me.  The  car's  outside.  You  say  Alliot 
will  be  here  in  ten  minutes.  Leave  him  a  note.  He's 
an  old  friend  as  well  as  a  doctor.  Let  him  deal  with 
it  if  you  won't  let  me. 

MARGARET 

Oh,  can't  you  see  that  I  must  tell  Hilary  myself? 

GRAY 

[Angrily.} 
Women  are  incomprehensible! 

MARGARET 

It's  men  who  are  uncomprehending.  Can't  you 
feel  that  it'll  hurt  him  less  from  me? 

GRAY 

It'll  hurt  him  ten  thousand  times  more. 

MARGARET 

But  differently.     It's  the  things  one  might  have  said 


66  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

that  fester.     At  least  I'll  spare  him  that  torment.     He 
shall  say  all  he  wants. 

GRAY 

[Blackly.] 

I  suppose  the  truth  is  that  there's  something  in  the 
best  of  women  that  enjoys  a  scene. 

MARGARET 

That's  the  first  bitter  thing  you've  ever  said  to  me. 

GRAY 

[Breaking  out.'] 

Can't  you  see  what  it  does  to  me  to  know  you  are 
in  the  same  house  with  him?  For  God's  sake,  come 
out  of  it ! 

MARGARET 

[Close  to  him.] 

I  want  to  come,  now,  this  moment.  I  want  to  be 
forced  to  come. 

GRAY 

That  settles  it. 

MARGARET 

[Eluding   him.] 

But  I  mustn't !  Don't  you  see  that  I  mustn't  ?  I 
can't  leave  Sydney  to  lay  my  past  for  me. 

GRAY 

Your  past  is  dead. 

MARGARET 

Its  ghost's  awake  and  walking. 

HILARY'S  VOICE 

Meg !     Meg ! 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  67 

MARGARET 

[Clingiiig  to  hint.'] 
Listen,  it's  calling  to  me. 

HILARY'S  VOICE 

Meg,  where  are  you? 

MARGARET 

It's  too  late!  I'm  too  old!  I  shall  never  get  away 
from  him.     I  told  you  it  was  too  good  to  be  true. 

GRAY 

[Deliberately  matter-of-fact.'] 

Listen  to  me!  I  am  going  home  now.  There  are 
orders  to  be  given.  I  must  get  some  money  and  pa- 
pers. But  I  shall  be  back  here  in  an  hour.  I  give  you 
just  that  hour  to  tell  him  what  you  choose.  After  that 
you'll  be  ready  to  come. 

MARGARET 

If  —  if  I've  managed  — 

GRAY 

There's  no  if.     You're  coming. 

MARGARET 

Am  I  coming,  Gray? 

HILARY 

[Entering  from  the  hall.] 
Meg,  Sydney  said  you'd  gone  to  your  room.     Hullo ! 
What's   this?     Who's   this?     Doctor,   eh?     I've   been 
expecting  them  down  on  me. 


68  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

[To  Gray.'] 
It's  no  good,  you  know.     I'm  as  fit  as  you  are.     Any 
test  you  like. 

MARGARET 

Mr.  Meredith  called  to  see  me,  Hilary!     He's  just 
going. 

HILARY 

Oh,  sorry ! 

[He  walks  to  the  fire  and  stands  warming  his  hands,  but 
watching  them  over  his  shoulder.~\ 

GRAY 

[At  the  door,  in  a  low  voice  to  Margaret.'] 
I  don't  like  leaving  you. 

MARGARET 

You  must !     It's  better !     But  —  come  back  quickly  ! 

GRAY 

You'll  be  ready? 

MARGARET 
I  will. 

[Gray  goes  out.'] 

HILARY 

[Uneasily.] 
Who's  that  man? 

MARGARET 

His  name's  Gray  Meredith, 

HILARY 

What's  he  doing  here  ? 

MARGARET 

He's  an  old  friend. 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  69 

HILARY 

I  don't  know  him,  do  I  ? 

MARGARET 

It's  since  you  were  ill.     It's  the  last  five  years. 

HILARY 

He's  in  love  with  you !  I  tell  you,  the  man's  in  love 
with  you !  Do  you  think  I'm  so  dazed  and  crazed  I 
can't  see  that?  You  shouldn't  let  him,  Meg!  You're 
such  a  child  you  don't  know  what  you're  doing  when 
you  look  and  smile  — 

MARGARET 

[In  a  strained  voice.'] 
I  do  know. 

\_She  stands  quite  still  in  the  middle  of  the  room,  her  head 
lifted,  a  beautiful  zvoman.'] 

HILARY 

\_Staring  at  her.} 
Lord,  I  don't  wonder  at  him,  poor  brute ! 

[Still   staring.'] 
Meg,  you've  changed. 

MARGARET 
[Catching  at  the  opening.] 
Yes,  Hilary. 

HILARY 

Taller,  more  beautiful  —  and  yet  I  miss  something. 

MARGARET 

[Urging  him  on.] 
Yes,  Hilary ! 


70  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

HILARY 

IWist  fully.'] 
Something  you  used  to  have  —  kind  —  a  kind  way 
with  you  —  the  child's  got  it.  Sydney  —  my  daugh- 
ter. Sydney!  She's  more  you  than  you  are.  You 
—  you've  grown  right  up  —  away  —  beyond  me  — 
haven't  you? 

MARGARET 

Yes,  Hilary. 

HILARY 

But  I'm  going  to  catch  up.     You'll  help  me  to  catch 
up  with  you  —  Meg? 

[She  doesn't  answer.] 

Meg !     Wait  for  me  !     Meg,  where  are  you  ?     Why 
don't  you  hold  out  your  hands? 

MARGARET 

[Wrung  for  him.] 
I  can't,  Hilary !     My  hands  are  full. 

HILARY 

[His  tone  lightening  into  relief.] 
What,  Sydney  ?     She'll  be  ofif  in  no  time.     She's  told 
me  about  the  boy  —  what's  his  name?     Kit  —  already. 

MARGARET 


It's  not  Sydney, 
What? 


HILARY 


[Crescendo.] 
Eh?     What  are  you  driving  at?     What  are  you  trying 
to  tell  me?     What's  changed  you?     Why  do  you  look 
at  me  sideways?     Why  do  you  flinch  when  I  speak 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  71 

loudly?     Yes  —  and  when  I  kissed  you —     It's  that 
man ! 

\_He  goes  up  to  her  and  takes  her  by  the  wrist,  staring 
into  her  face.} 

Is  it  true?     YouF 

MARGARET 

'[Pitifully.'] 
I've  done  nothing  wrong.     I'm  trying  to  tell  you.     I 
only  want  to  tell  you  and  make  you  understand.     Hil- 
ary, fifteen  years  is  a  long  time  — 

HILARY 

IDidly.] 

Yes.     I  suppose  it's  a  long  time  for  a  woman  to  be 
faithful. 

MARGARET 

That's  it!     That's  the  whole  thing!     If  I'd  loved 
you  it  wouldn't  have  been  long  — 

HILARY 

[Violently,  crying  her  down.} 
You  did  love  me  once. 

MARGARET 

[Beaten.} 
Did  I  —  once  ?     I  don't  know  — 

[There  is  a  silence.} 

HILARY 

[Without  expression.} 
What  do  you  expect  me  to  do  ?     Forgive  you  ? 


72  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

MARGARET 

[Stitng.^ 
There's  nothing  to  forgive. 

\_Softcning.'] 
Oh,  so  much,  Hilary,  to  forgive  each  other ;  but  not 
that. 

HILARY 

[More  and  more  roughly  as  he  loses  control  of  himself.'] 
Divorce  you,  then?     Because  I'll  not  do  that!     I'll 
have  no  dirty  linen  v^ashed  in  the  courts. 

MARGARET 

^Forced  into  the  open.'] 
Hilary,  I  divorced  you  twelve  months  ago. 

HILARY 

[^Shouting.] 
What?  what?  what? 

MARGARET 

I  divorced  you  — 

HILARY 

[^Beside  himself.] 
You're  mad  !  You  couldn't  do  it !  You'd  no  cause ! 
D'you  think  I'm  to  be  put  off  with  your  lies?  Am  I  a 
child?  You'd  no  cause!  Oh,  I  see  what  you're  at. 
You  want  to  confuse  me.  You  want  to  pull  wool  over 
my  eyes.  You  want  to  drive  me  off  my  head  —  drive 
me  mad  again.  You  devil!  You  devil!  You  sha'n't 
do  it.     I've  got  friends  —  Sydney !  where's  that  girl? 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  73 

[Shouting.~\ 

Sydney!     Hester!     All  of  you!     Come  here!     Come 
here,  I  say ! 

[Sydney  opens  the  drawing-room  door.} 

SYDNEY 

Mother,  what  is  it  ? 
[She  enters,  followed  by  Miss  Fairfield.     To  Hilary.'] 
What  are  you  doing?     You're  frightening  her. 

HILARY 

[Wildly.] 
No,  no !     You're  not  on  her  side.     You're  little  Syd- 
ney —  kind  —  my  Sydney !     What  did  you  say  —  go 
slow,  eh  ?     Keep  your  hand  here  —  cool,  cool. 
[Then  as  Sydney,  breaking  from  him,  makes  a  movement 
to  her  mother.] 

Stand  away  from  that  woman  ! 

MARGARET 

Sydney,  humor  him. 

HILARY 

[At  white  heat.] 

What  was  I  calling  you  for,  eh?  Oh,  yes,  a  riddle. 
I've  got  a  riddle  for  you.  There  was  a  man  at  that 
place  —  used  to  ask  riddles  —  the  moon  told  'em  to 
him.  Just  such  a  white  face  whispering  out  of  the 
blue  —  Lies  !  He  couldn't  find  the  answers  —  sent 
him  off  his  head.  But  I  know  the  answer.  When's  a 
wife  not  a  wife,  eh?  Want  to  know  the  answer? 
[Pointing  to  Margaret.] 

When  she's  this —  tJiis —  tJiis! 


74  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

IConfidentially.} 
She's  poisoning  me. 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

Now,  Hilary !     Hilary !  — 

HILARY 

Sydney,  come  here!     I'll  tell  yon. 

[Sydney  stands  torn  between  the  two.'] 

MISS  FAIRFIELD 

What  have  you  done  to  him,  Margaret? 

MARGARET 

I've  told  him  the  truth. 

MISSi  FAIRFIELD 

God  forgive  you ! 

HILARY 

[Raving.'} 
I  tell  you  she's  pouring  poison  into  my  ear.  You 
remember  that  fellow  in  the  play  —  and  his  wife? 
That's  what  she's  done.  If  I  told  you  what  she  said  to 
me,  you'd  think  I  was  mad.  And  that's  what  she 
wants  you  to  think.  She  wants  to  get  rid  of  me. 
She's  got  a  tame  cat  about  the  place.  I'm  in  the  way. 
And  so  she  comes  to  me,  d'you  see,  and  tells  me  — 
what  do  you  think?  She  says  she's  not  my  wife. 
What  do  you  think  of  that? 

MISS  FAIRFIELD 

[Grimly.'] 
You  may  well  ask. 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEiMENT  75 

MARGARET 

[To  Sydney.} 
He  won't  listen  — 

SYDNEY 

Sit  down,  darling!     You're  shaking, 

MARGARET 

He's  always  had  these  rages.  It's  my  fault.  I  be- 
gan at  the  wrong  end.  Hilary  —  it's  not  —  I'm  not 
what  you  think. 

HILARY 

Then  what  was  that  man  doing  in  my  house  ? 

MARGARET 

In  a  week  I'm  going  to  marry  him. 

HILARY 

D'you  hear  her?  To  me  she  says  this!  Is  she  mad 
or  am  I  ? 

MARGARET 

\_Desperately.} 
I  tell  you  there's  been  a  law  passed  — 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

No  need  for  him  to  know  that  now,  Margaret ! 

SYDNEY 

Of  course  he  has  to  know. 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

Not  now. 

MARGARET 
[On  the  defensive.'] 
I  don't  know  what  you  mean.  Aunt  Hester ! 


76  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

Let  US  rather  thank  God  that  he  has  come  back  in 
time. 

MARGARET 

\_Uneasy.'\ 
In  time?     In  time? 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

To  snatch  a  brand  from  the  burning. 

MARGARET 

I'm  a  free  woman.     I've  got  my  divorce. 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

Whom  God  hath  joined  let  no  man  put  asunder. 

MARGARET 

[At  bay.} 
I'm  a  free  woman.     I'm  going  to  marry  Gray  Mere- 
dith.    This  is  a  trap  !     Sydney  ! 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

Is  this  talk  for  a  young  girl  to  hear? 

MARGARET 

Sydney,  you're  to  fetch  Gray. 

HILARY 

[With  weak  violence.'] 
If  he  comes  here  I'll  kill  him. 

MARGARET 

[Catching  Sydney  back.l 
No,  no!     D'you  hear  him?     Oh,  what  am  I  to  do? 

SYDNEY 

It's  all  right,  mother !     We'll  manage  somehow. 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  77 

BASSETT 

\_Entering.^ 
Dr.  Alliot  is  in  the  hall,  ma'am. 

MARGARET 

[With  a  gasp  of  relief.'] 

Ask  him  to  come  in  here.     At  once. 

\_Dr.  Alliot  trots  in.  He  is  a  pleasant,  roundabout,  clean 
little  old  man,  with  a  twinkling  face  and  brisk,  chubby 
movements  of  the  hands.  He  is  upright  and  his 
voice  is  strong.  He  wears  his  seventy  odd  years  like 
a  good  joke  that  he  expects  you  to  keep  up,  in  spite 
of  the  fact  that  he  is  really  your  own  age  and  un- 
derstands you  better  than  you  do  yourself.  But  be- 
hind his  comfortable  manner  is  a  hint  of  authority 
which  has  its  effect,  especially  on  Hilary.'] 

DR.   ALLIOT 

What's  all  this  I  hear?  Well,  well!  Good  after- 
noon, Mrs.  Fairfield!  Good  afternoon,  Miss  Fairfield! 
Merry  Christmas,  Sydney !  Now  then,  now  for  him ! 
Welcome  back,  Fairfield !     Welcome  back,  my  boy ! 

HILARY 

It's  —  it's  —  old  Alliot,  isn't  it? 

DR.   ALLIOT 

Your  memory's  all  right,  I  see. 

HILARY 

I  suppose  they've  sent  for  you  — 

DR.   ALLIOT 

Well,  well,  you  see,  you've  arrived  rather  unconven- 
tionally.    I've  been  in  touch  with  — 


78  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

HILARY 

That  place? 

DR.   ALLIOT 

Why,  yes !  You  may  have  to  go  back,  you  know ! 
Formalities !     Formalities ! 

HILARY 

I  don't  mind.  I'm  well.  I'm  well,  Alliot !  I'm  not 
afraid  of  what  you'll  say.  I'm  not  afraid  of  any  of 
you. 

DR.   ALLIOT 

Well,  well,  well !  that  sounds  hopeful. 

HILARY 

But  I  can't  go  yet,  doctor. 

DR.   ALLIOT 

Only  for  a  day  or  two. 

HILARY 

It's  my  wife.  I  lost  my  temper.  I  do  lose  my  tem- 
per. It  means  nothing.  Go  slow,  eh?  My  wife's  ill, 
doctor.     She's  not  right  in  her  head. 

DR.   ALLIOT 

[Alert.^ 
Ah! 

HILARY 

[With  a  wave  of  his  hand.'\ 
So  are  the  rest  of  them.     Mad  as  hatters. 

DR.   ALLIOT 

H'm! 

HILARY 

[Checked,  glances  at  him  keenly  a  moment.     Then  chuck- 
ling.'] 

Oh,  you're  thinking  that's  a  delusion. 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  79 

DR.   ALLIOT 

[Humoring  Jiim.l 
Between  you  and  me,  it's  a  common  one. 

HILARY 

IHalf  nattered.'] 
Ah,  we  know,  don't  we  ?     Served  in  the  same  shop, 
eh  ?     Only  the  counter  between  us. 

DR.   ALLIOT 

\_Feeling  his  way.] 
Well,  well  — 

HILARY 

But  look  here !     She  says  she's  not  my  wife. 

DR.   ALLIOT 

lEnlightcned.'] 
Oh !     Oh,  that's  the  trouble ! 

HILARY 

She  says  she's  not  my  wife. 

DR.  ALLIOT 

ISoberly.] 
It's  a  hard  case,  Fairfield. 

HILARY 

What  d'you  mean  by  that  ? 

DR.   ALLIOT 

It's  the  old  wisdom  of  the  scapegoat  —  it  is  expe- 
dient —  how  does  it  go  ?  expedient  —  ? 

SYDNEY 

"  It  is  expedient  that  one  man  should  die  for  the 
people." 


8o  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

DR.   ALLIOT 

That's  it !     A  hard  word,  but  a  true  one. 

HILARY 

What  has  that  got  to  do  with  me  ? 

DR.   ALLIOT 

Well,  the  situation  is  this  — 

HILARY 

There  is  no  situation.     I  married  Meg.     I  fell  ill. 
Now  I'm  well  again.     I  want  my  wife. 

DR.   ALLIOT 

Why,  yes  —  yes  — 

HILARY 

[Picking  it  up  irritably.'] 

"  Yes  —  yes  —  Yes  —  yes  — "  I  suppose  that's  what 
you  call  humoring  a  lunatic. 

DR.   ALLIOT 

Why,  I  hope  to  be  convinced,  Fairfield,  that  that 
trouble's  over,  but  — 

HILARY 

But  you're  going  to  lock  me  up  again  because  I  want 
my  wife. 

DR.   ALLIOT 

[Patiently.] 
Will  you  let  me  put  the  case  to  you  ? 

HILARY 

You  can  put  fifty  cases.     It  makes  no  difference. 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  81 

SYDNEY 

[At  his  elbow,  softly.} 
Father,  I'd  listen. 

HILARY 

[Slipping  his  arm  through  hers.} 

Eh?  Sydney?  That  you?  You're  not  against  me, 
Sydney  ? 

SYDNEY 

Nobody's  against  you.     We  only  want  you  to  listen. 

HILARY 

Well,  out  with  it ! 

DR.   ALLIOT 

D'you  remember  —  can  you  throw  your  mind  back 
to  the  beginning  of  the  agitation  against  the  marriage 
laws?     No,  you  were  a  schoolboy  — 

HILARY 

Deceased  wife's  sister,  eh?  That's  the  law  that  lets 
a  man  marry  his  sister-in-law  and  won't  let  a  woman 
marry  her  brother-in-law.  Pretty  good,  that,  for  your 
side  of  the  counter. 

DR.   ALLIOT 

Well,  well,  that  hardly  matters  now. 

HILARY 

It  shows  what  your  rotten,  muddle-headed  laws  are 
worth,  anyhow. 

SYDNEY 

[Pressing  his  arm.'} 
Father ! 


82  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

HILARY 

All  right !     Go  ahead  !     Go  ahead  ! 

DR.   ALLIOT 

Well,  as  the  result  of  that  agitation  —  and  remem- 
ber, Hilary,  what  thousand,  thousand  tragedies  must 
have  had  voice  in  such  an  outcry  —  a  commission  was 
appointed  to  inquire  into  the  working  of  the  divorce 
laws.  It  made  its  report,  recommended  certain  drastic 
reforms,  and  there,  I  suppose,  as  is  the  way  with  com- 
missions, would  have  been  the  end  of  it,  if  it  hadn't 
been  for  the  war  —  and  the  war  marriages. 

HILARY 

\_Lowering.'] 

So  that's  where  I  come  in !  Margaret,  is  that  where 
I  come  in? 

DR.   ALLIOT 

Never,  I  suppose,  in  one  decade  were  there  so  many 
young  marriages.  Happy?  That's  another  thing! 
Marry  in  haste  — 

MARGARET 

They  weren't  all  happy. 

DR.   ALLIOT 

But  they  were  young,  those  boys  and  girls  who  mar- 
ried. As  young  as  Kit,  and  as  impatient  as  Sydney. 
And  that  saved  them.  That  young,  young  generation 
found  out,  out  of  their  own  unhappiness,  the  war 
taught  them,  what  peace  couldn't  teach  us  —  that 
when  conditions  are  evil  it  is  not  your  duty  to  submit 
—  that  when  conditions  are  evil,  your  duty,  in  spite  of 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  83 

protests,  in  spite  of  sentiment,  your  duty,  though  you 
trample  on  the  bodies  of  your  nearest  and  dearest  to  do 
it,  though  you  bleed  your  own  heart  white,  your  duty  is 
to  see  that  those  conditions  are  changed.  If  your  laws 
forbid  you,  you  must  change  your  laws.  If  your 
church  forbids  you,  you  must  change  your  church. 
And  if  your  God  forbids  you,  why  then,  you  must 
change  your  God. 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

And  we  who  will  not  change? 

MARGARET 

Or    cannot   change —  ? 

DR.   ALLIOT 

Stifle.  Like  a  snake  that  can't  cast  its  skin.  Grow 
or  perish  —  it's  the  law  of  life.  And  so,  when  this 
young  generation  —  yours,  not  mine,  Hilary  —  decided 
that  the  marriage  laws  were,  I  won't  say  evil,  but  out- 
grown, they  set  to  work  to  change  them. 

MISS    FAIRFIELD 

You  needn't  think  it  was  without  protest,  Hilary.  I 
joined  the  anti-divorce  league  myself. 

DR.   ALLIOT 

No,  it  wasn't  without  protest.  Mrs.  Grundy  and 
the  churches  are  protesting  still.  But  in  spite  of  pro- 
test, no  man  or  woman  to-day  is  bound  to  a  drunkard, 
an  habitual  criminal,  or  — 

HILARY 

Or—  ? 


84  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

DR.   ALLIOT 

Or  to  a  partner  who,  as  far  as  we  doctors  know  — 

HILARY 

But  you  can't  be  sure! 

DR.   ALLIOT 

I  say  as  far  as  we  know,  is  incurably  insane  —  in 
practice,  is  insane  for  more  than  five  years. 

HILARY 

And  if  he  recovers?     Look  at  me! 

DR.   ALLIOT 

[With  a  sigh.} 
"  It  is  expedient  — " 

HILARY 

And  you  call  that  justice ! 

MARGARET 

At  least  call  it  mercy.  All  the  days  of  your  life  to 
stand  at  the  window,  Hilary,  and  watch  the  sun  shining 
on  the  other  side  of  the  road  —  it's  hard,  it's  hard  on  a 
woman. 

DR.   ALLIOT 

At  least  call  it  common  sense.  If  a  man  can't  live 
his  normal  life,  it's  as  if  he  were  dead.  If  he's  an  in- 
curable drunkard,  if  he's  shut  away  for  life  in 
prison  — 

HILARY 

But  I'm  not  a  drunkard.  I'm  not  a  convict.  I've 
done  nothing.  I've  been  to  the  war,  to  fight,  for  her, 
for  all  of  you,  for  my  country,  for  this  law-making 
machine  that  I've  called  my  country.     And  when  I've 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  85 

got  from  it,  not  honorable  scars,  not  medals  and  glory, 
but  sixteen  years  in  hell,  then  when  I  get  out  again, 
then  the  country  I've  fought  for,  the  laws  I've  fought 
for,  the  woman  I've  fought  for,  they  say  to  me — "  As 
you've  done  without  her  for  seventeen  years  you  can 
do  without  her  altogether."  That's  what  it  is.  When 
I  was  helpless  they  conspired  behind  my  back  to  take 
away  all  I  had  from  me. 

[To  Margaret. '\ 

Did  I  ever  hurt  you?  Didn't  I  love  you?  Didn't 
you  love  me?  Could  I  help  being  ill?  What  have  I 
done? 

SYDNEY 

You  died,  father. 

MARGARET 

Sydney,  don't  be  cruel. 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

Ah,  we  cry  after  the  dead,  but  I've  always  won- 
dered what  their  welcome  back  would  be. 

HILARY 

Well,  you  know  now. 

DR.   ALLIOT 

I  don't  say  it  isn't  hard  — 

HILARY 

Ah,  you  don't  say  it  isn't  hard !  That's  good  of  you. 
That's  sympathy  indeed.  And  my  wife  —  she's  full  of 
it,  too,  isn't  she  ?  "  Poor  dear !  I  was  married  to  him 
once,     I'd  quite  forgotten." 


86  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

MARGARET 

For  pity's  sake,  Hilary  — 

DR.   ALLIOT 

Why,  face  it,  man!  One  of  you  must  suffer. 
Which  is  it  to  be?  The  useful  or  the  useless?  the 
whole  or  the  maimed?  the  healthy  woman  with  her  life 
before  her,  or  the  man  whose  children  ought  never  to 
have  been  born? 

HILARY 

[In  terrible  appeal.] 
Margaret ! 

SYDNEY 

Is  that  true,  Dr.  Alliot?     Is  that  true? 

MARGARET 

{Her  voice  shaking. li 
I  think  you  go  too  far. 

DR.   ALLIOT 

Mrs.  Fairfield,  in  this  matter  I  cannot  go  too  far. 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

For  me,  at  any  rate  —  too  far  and  too  fast  alto- 
gether !  Before  ladies !  It's  not  nice.  It's  enough  to 
call  down  a  judgment. 

BASSETT 

\_Entering.] 

Mr.  Pumphrey  to  see  you,  ma'am. 

[To  Sydney.'] 
And  Mr.  Kit. 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  87 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

IJustified.l 
Ah! 

MARGARET 

I  can't  see  any  one. 

BASSETT 

He  said,  ma'am,  it  was  important. 

HILARY 

Who?     Who? 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

The  rector.     I  expect  he's  heard  about  you. 

HILARY 

I  can't  see  him.     I  won't  see  him.     Let  me  go.     I've 
met  the  Levites.     Spare  me  the  priest. 

IHe  breaks  azvay  from  them  and  goes  stumbling  out  at 
the  other  door.'] 

SYDNEY 

[^Following  him  anxiously.'] 
Father ! 

DR.   ALLIOT 

\_Pr eventing  her.] 

No,  no,  my  child !     I'll  look  after  him. 

\_He  goes  out  quickly.] 

\The  Rector  is  an  insignificant  man  with  an  important 
manner  and  a  plum  in  his  mouth.  He  enters  with 
Kit  who  is  flushed  and  perturbed.] 

RECTOR 

Ah,   good   afternoon,   Mrs.    Fairfield  —  Miss   Fair- 
field— 


88  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

MARGARET 

^Mechanically.     She   is  very  tired  and  inattentive.'] 
A  happy  Christmas,  Mr.  Pumphrey ! 

RECTOR 

Ah !  Just  so !  Christmas  afternoon.  An  unusual 
day  to  call,  Mrs.  Fairfield,  and,  I  fear,  an  inconvenient 
hour  — 

MARGARET 

Not  at  all,  Mr.  Pumphrey. 

RECTOR 

I  can  give  myself  — 

[He  takes  out  his  watch.'] 
—  till  three-fifteen,  no  longer.     The  children's  service 
is  at  three-thirty. 

MARGARET 

[Turning  to  the  bell.] 
Mayn't  I  order  you  an  early  cup  of  tea? 

RECTOR 

Thank  you,  thank  you,  no.  Busy  as  I  am,  I  should 
not  have  disturbed  you  — 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

Rector,  it  is  as  if  you  had  been  sent ! 

RECTOR 

Ah  !  gratifying !  I  did  not  see  you  at  morning  serv- 
ice. Miss  Fairfield.     But  last  night  —  late  last  night  — 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

[With  a  look  at  Sydney.] 
Three  a.m.,  rector? 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  89 

RECTOR 

Three-fifteen,  Miss  Fairfield. 

KIT 

Look  here,  father  — 

RECTOR 

I  received  certain  information  from  my  son  — 

KIT 

No,  you  don't,  father.     I'll  have  my  say  first.     It's 
just  this,  Mrs.  Fairfield  — 

RECTOR 

^Fussed.'] 
Christopher  ?     Christopher  ? 

KIT 

IHe  is  very  much  in  earnest  and  he  addresses  himself 
solely  to  Margaret.'] 

I  want  you  to  know  that  it  is  nothing  to  do  with  me, 
Mrs.  Fairfield.     I  don't  agree  with  my  father. 
[^Confidentially.'] 
You  wouldn't  think  it,  but  I  never  do. 

RECTOR 

Christopher  ? 

KIT 

[Ignoring  him.] 

And  it  was  only  coming  up  the  drive  that  he  sprung 
on  me  why  he  wanted  to  see  you,  or  I  wouldn't  have 
come  — 

MARGARET 

[Liking  him.] 
I  think  Sydney  would  have  been  sorry,  Kit. 


90  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

KIT 

[With  a  touch  of  his  father's  manner.'] 
Yes,  well,  Sydney  and  I  have  talked  it  over  —  and  I 
know  I'm  going  into  the  church  myself  —  but  I  think 
he's  all  wrong,  Mrs.  Fairfield. 

[Unconscious  of  plagiarism.'] 
I'm  not  nineteenth  century. 

[But  Sydney  giggles.] 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

Rector,  what's  the  matter  with  the  young  man  ? 

KIT 
[Forging  ahead.] 
You  see,  I'm  pretty  keen  about  Sydney,  and  so,  nat- 
urally, I'm  pretty  keen  about  you,  Mrs.  Fairfield  — 

RECTOR 

Miss  Fairfield,  I'm  without  words. 

KIT 

[Burdened.] 

—  and  I  just  wanted  to  tell  you  that  I  can't  tell  you 

what   I   think   of   my    father   over  this   business.     It 

makes  me  wild. 

SYDNEY 

Kit,  you'd  better  shut  up. 

KIT 

[Turning  to  Sydney.] 

Well,  I  only  wanted  her  to  understand  that  I'm  not 

responsible   for  my   father  — that  he's   not   my   own 

choice,  if  you  know  what  I  mean  — 

[They  talk  aside.] 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  91 

RECTOR 

His  mother's  right  hand !  I  don't  know  what's  come 
over  him ! 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

IGrimly.} 
A  pretty  face,  rector ! 

RECTOR 

Ah  !  the  very  point !  I  shall  be  glad  to  see  you  alone, 
Mrs.  Fairfield  —  not  you,  of  course,  Miss  Fairfield,  but 
—  er  — 

[He  glances  at  Kit  and  Sydney.} 

MARGARET 

IResignedly.'] 
Sydney,  have  you  shown  Kit  all  your  presents? 

SYDNEY 

[^Reluctantly  taking  the  hint,  but  continuing  the  conversa- 
tion as  they  go  out.} 

What  did  you  let  him  come  for?  Oh,  you're  no 
good! 

IThe  door  bangs  behind  them.'] 

MARGARET 
[Half  smiling.'] 

Well,  Mr,  Pumphrey,  I  suppose  it's  about  Sydney 
and  Kit  ? 

RECTOR 

Mrs.  Fairfield,  until  last  night  we  encouraged,  we 
were  gratified  — 

MARGARET 

Last  night  ?     Oh,  the  dance ! 


92  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

RECTOR 

I  sat  up  for  my  son  until  three-fifteen  of  Christmas 
morning.     His  excuse  was  your  daughter  — 

MARGARET 

llVith  dignity.'] 
Do  you  take  objection  to  Sydney,  Mr.  Pumphrey? 

RECTOR 

Now,  my  dear  lady,  you  mustn't  misunderstand 
me  — 

MARGARET 

[Quietly.^ 
To  me,  then  ? 

RECTOR 

Mrs.  Fairfield,  I  beg —  !  But  in  the  course  of  a 
slight  —  er  —  altercation  between  Christopher  and  my- 
self it  transpired  — 

MARGARET 

IShe  has  been  prepared  for  it.'] 
I  see.     It's  her  father  — 

RECTOR 

I  am  grieved  —  grieved  for  you. 

MARGARET 

But  his  illness  was  no  secret. 

RECTOR 

My  heart,  Mrs.  Fairfield,  and  Mrs.  Pumphrey's 
heart,  has  gone  out  to  you  in  your  affliction.  When 
the  light  of  reason  — 

MARGARET 

Then  you  did  know.     Then  I  don't  follow, 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  93 

RECTOR 

But  according  to  Christopher  — 

MARGARET 

Well? 

RECTOR 

Mrs.  Fairfield,  is  your  husband  alive  or  dead? 

MARGARET 

My  former  husband  is  alive. 

RECTOR 

[With  a  half  deprecating,  half  triumphant  gesture.'] 
Out  of  your  own  mouth,  Mrs.  Fairfield  — 

MARGARET 

\^Bewildered.'\ 
But  you  say  you  knew  he  was  insane  ? 

RECTOR 

But  I  didn't  know  he  was  alive. 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

[^Irritated.] 

Don't  be  so  foolish,  Margaret.     It's  not  the  insanity, 
it's  the  divorce. 

RECTOR 

When  I  realized  that  I  had  been  within  a  week  of 
remarrying  a  divorced  person. 

MARGARET 

IColdly.-] 
Why  didn't  you  go  to  Mr.  Meredith? 

RECTOR 

Mr.  Meredith  is  —  er  —  a  difficult  man  to  —  er  — 


94  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

approach.     I  felt  that  an  appeal  to  your  feelings  —  as 
a  Christian,  as  a  mother  — 

MARGARET 

You  mean  you'll  prevent  Kit  marrying  Sydney  —  ? 

RECTOR 

It  depends  on  you,  Mrs.  Fairfield.  I  won't  let  him 
marry  the  child  of  a  woman  who  remarries  while  her 
husband  is  alive. 

MARGARET 

But  the  church  allows  it  ? 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

[Correcting  her.'] 
Winks  at  it,  Margaret. 

RECTOR 

[With  dignity.'] 
"  Winks  "  is  hardly  the  word  — 

MARGARET 

Then  what  word  would  you  use,  Mr.  Pumphrey  ? 

RECTOR 

I  am  not  concerned  with  words  — 

MARGARET 

But  I  want  to  know.  I  care  about  my  church.  It 
lets  me  and  it  doesn't  let  me  —  what  does  it  mean  ? 

RECTOR 

[Much  moved.] 

I  am  not  concerned  with  meanings,  Mrs.  Fairfield. 
I  am  concerned  with  my  own  conscience. 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  95 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

Margaret  —  you've  no  business  to  upset  the  rector. 
Why  don't  you  tell  him  that  the  situation  has  changed  ? 

MARGARET 

Nothing  has  changed. 

RECTOR 

Changed  ? 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

My  nephew  has  recovered  —  returned.  He's  in  the 
house  now. 

RECTOR 

Providence!     It's  Providence! 

[With  enthusiasm.'] 

I  never  knew  anything  like  Providence.  Changed 
indeed,  Miss  Fairfield!  My  objection  goes.  Dear  lit- 
tle Sydney!  Ah,  Mrs.  Fairfield,  in  a  year  you  and 
your  husband  will  look  back  on  this  —  episode  as  on  a 
dream  —  a  bad  dream  — 

MARGARET 

[Stonily.] 
I  have  no  husband. 

RECTOR 

Ah  !  the  remarriage  —  a  mere  formality  — 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

Simpler  still  —  the  decree  can  be  rescinded, 

MARGARET 

[Stunned.'] 
Aunt  Hester,  knowing  his  history,  knowing  mine,  is 
it  possible  that  you  expect  me  to  go  back  to  him  ? 


96  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

He's  come  back  to  you. 

RECTOR 

A  wife's  duty  — 

MARGARET 

[Slowly.] 
I  think  you're  wicked.     I  think  you're  both  wicked. 

RECTOR 

Mrs.  Fairfield ! 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

Control  yourself,  Margaret ! 

MARGARET 

[With  a  touch  of  wildness  in  her  manner.'] 
You  —  do  you  love  your  wife  ? 

RECTOR 

Mrs.  Fairfield ! 

MARGARET 

Do  you? 

RECTOR 

Mrs.  Pumphrey  and  I  —  most  attached  — 

MARGARET 

Suppose  you  weren't.  Think  of  it  —  to  want  so 
desperately  to  feel  —  and  to  feel  nothing.  Do  you 
know  what  it  means  to  dread  a  person  who  loves  you? 
To  stiffen  at  the  look  in  their  eyes?  To  pity  and  — 
shudder?     You  should  not  judge. 

[Hilary,  unseen,  opens  the  doors  and.  shuts  it  again 
quickly.] 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  97 

RECTOR 
I  — I  — 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

There  it  is,  you  see,  rector !     She  doesn't  care  what 
she  says, 

[Dr.  Alliot  enter sJ] 

DR.   ALLIOT 

[Gravely,  holding  the  door  behind  him.'] 

Margaret,  my  child  — 

[He  sees  the  others  and  his  voice  changes.] 

Hullo,  Pumphrey!     You  here  still?     Well,  well  — 
you're  cutting  it  fine. 

RECTOR 

The  service! 

[He  pulls  out  his  watch,  stricken.'] 

DR.   ALLIOT 

I'll  run  you  down  there,  if  you'll  wait  a  minute. 

[To  Margaret,  privately,  poking  a  wise  forefinger.] 

What  you  want,  my  child,  is  a  good  cry  and  a  cup  of 
tea. 

RECTOR 

[Coming  up  to  Margaret,  stiffly.] 

Good  day,   Mrs.   Fairfield !     You  will  not  —  recon- 
sider— 

MARGARET 

I  will  not. 

RECTOR 

I  regret  —  I  regret  — 


98  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

\_To  Miss  Fairfield.^ 
My  dear  lady,  you  have  my  sympathy.     I  think  I 
left  my  hat  — 

[Miss  Fairfield  escorts  him  into  the  hall.1 

DR.   ALLIOT 

Hilary's    coming    home    with    me,    Margaret.     He 
wants  a  word  with  you  first.     Can  you  manage  that? 

MARGARET 

Of  course. 

DR.   ALLIOT 

lAbruptly.} 
Where's  Meredith? 

MARGARET 

\_Eagerly.} 
He's  coming.     He's  taking  me  away. 

DR.   ALLIOT 

Good.     The  sooner  the  better. 

RECTOR 

[Reappearing  at  the  door.} 
Dr.  Alliot  —  it  now  wants  seven  minutes  to  the  half. 

DR.   ALLIOT 

Coming!     Coming!     See  now  —  you  can  be  gentle 
with  him  — 

MARGARET 

Of  course. 

DR.   ALLIOT 

[With  a  keen  look  at  her.} 
Nor  yet  too  gentle.     Well,  well,  God  be  with  you, 
child ! 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  99 

[He  trots  out.Ji 

[Hilary  comes  in,  hesitating.  If  he  is  without  dignity  he 
is  nevertheless  too  much  like  a  hectored,  forlorn  child 
to  he  ludicrous.'] 

HILARY 

Have  they  gone? 

[Reassuring  her.'] 

It's  all  right.     I'm  going  too. 

[He  waits  for  her  to  answer.     She  says  nothing.} 

I'm  going.     I've  got  to.     I  see  that.     He's  made  me 
see. 

MARGARET 

Dr.  Alliot? 

HILARY 

I'm  going  to  stay  with  him  till  I  can  look  round. 
He's  going  to  make  it  right  with  —  that  place. 

MARGARET 

I'm  glad  you've  got  a  good  friend,  Hilary. 

HILARY 

Yes,  he's  a  good  chap.     He's  talked  to  me.     He's 
made  me  see. 

[He  conies  a  little  closer.'] 
He  says  —  and  I  do  see  —  it's  too  late,  of  course  — 
[His  look  at  her  is  a  petition,  but  she  snakes  no  sign.] 

—  isn't  it? 

[He  conies  nearer.] 

Yes  —  it's  too  late.     It  wouldn't  be  fair  to  —  to  ask 
you  — 

[Again  the  look.] 

—  would  it?  ' 


100  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

MARGARET 

[Imploringly.'] 
Oh,  Hilary!     Hilary! 

HILARY 

[Encouraged  to  come  closer.} 
No   woman   could   be   expected  —  you   couldn't   be 
expected  — 

[She  makes  no  sign.l 
Could  you? 

[Repeating  Jiis  lesson.} 

It's  what  he  says  —  you've  made  a  new  life  for  your- 
self— 

[He  waits.} 

Haven't  you  ?     There's  no  room  in  it  —  for  me  —  is 
there  ? 

[He  is  close  to  her.     She  does  not  move.} 

So  it's  just  a  case  of  —  saying  good-by  and  going,  be 
cause  —  because  —  I  quite  see  —  there's  no  chance  — ■ 

[Suddeiily  he  tJirozvs  himself  dozvn  beside  her,  catching  at 
her  hands,  clinging  to  her  knees.} 

Oh!  Meg,  Meg,  Meg,  isn't  there  just  a  chance? 

MARGARET 
[Faintly.} 
Hilary,  I  can't  stand  it. 

HILARY 

[And  from  now  to  the  end  of  the  scene,  he  is  at  full  pelt, 
tumbling  over  his  words,  frantic.} 

Yes,  but  listen  to  me !     Listen  to  me !     You  don't 
listen.     Listen  to  me!     I've  been  alone  so  long  — 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  loi 

MARGARET 

Gray  !  Gray  !     Why  don't  you   come  ? 

HILARY 

I'll  not  trouble  you.  I'll  not  get  in  your  way  — 
but  —  don't  leave  me  all  alone.  Give  me  something 
—  the  rustle  of  your  dress,  the  cushion  where  you've 
lain  —  your  voice  about  the  house.  You  can't  deny 
me  such  little  things,  that  you  give  your  servants 
and  your  dog. 

MARGARET 

It's  madness  — 

HILARY 

It's  naked  need ! 

MARGARET 

What  good  should  I  be  to  you?  I  don't  love  you, 
Hilary  —  poor  Hilary.  I  love  him.  I  never  think  of 
anything  but  him. 

HILARY 

But  it's  me  you  married.  You  promised  —  you 
promised  —  better  or  worse  —  in  sickness  in  health. 
You  can't  go  back  on  your  promise. 

MARGARET 

[Helpless.^ 
It  isn't  fair. 

HILARY 

Anything's  fair.  You  don't  know  what  misery 
means. 

MARGARET 

I'm  learning. 


102  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

HILARY 

But  you  don't  knozv.  You  couldn't  leave  me  to  it 
if  you  knew.  Why,  I've  never  known  you  hurt  a  crea- 
ture in  all  your  life!  Remember  the  rat  hunts  in  the 
barn,  the  way  we  used  to  chaff  you?  and  the  starling? 
and  the  kitten  you  found?  Why,  I've  seen  you  step 
aside  for  a  little  creeping  green  thing  on  the  path. 
You've  never  hurt  anything.  Then  how  can  you  hurt 
me  so?     You  can't  have  changed  since  yesterday  — 

MARGARET 

[In  despairing  protest.'] 
It's  half  my  life  ago  — 

HILARY 

It's  yesterday,  it's  yesterday ! 

MARGARET 

[With  the  fleeting  courage  of  a  half  caught  bird.'] 
Yes,  it  is  yesterday.     It's  how  you  took  me  —  yes- 
terday —  and  now  you're  doing  it  again ! 

HILARY 

\_Catching  at  the  hope  of  it.] 

Am  I  ?  Am  I  ?  Is  it  yesterday  —  yesterday  come 
back  again  ? 

MARGARET 

[In  the  toils.] 
No  —  no  !  Hilary,  I  can't ! 

HILARY 

[At  white  heat.] 
No,  you  can't.     You  can't  leave  me.     You  can't  do 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  103 

it  to  me.  You  can't  drive  me  out  —  the  wilderness  — 
alone  —  alone  —  alone.  You  can't  do  it,  Meg  —  you 
can't  do  it  —  you  can't ! 

MARGARET 

IBeaten.'] 
I  suppose  —  I  can't. 

HILARY 

You  —  you'll  stay  with  me  ? 

[Breaking  down  utterly.'] 

Oh,  God  bless  you,  Meg,  God  bless  you,  God  bless 
you  — 

[She  resigns  her  hands  to  him  while  she  sits,  flattened 
against  the  back  of  her  chair,  quivering  a  little,  like 
a  crucified  moth.] 

MARGARET 

[Puzzling  it  out.] 
You  mean  —  God  help  me ! 

Curtain 


ACT  III 

The  scene  is  the  same  as  in  Act  I.  Miss  Fairfield  sits 
knitting.  Sydney  is  fidgeting  about  the  room.  Bas- 
sett  comes  in  and  begins  to  lay  the  cloth.  Kit,  who 
enters  unseen  behind  her,  sees  Miss  Fairfield  and 
makes  hastily  up  the  stairs  on  tiptoe. 

SYDNEY 

l^Turning.l 
Oh,  Bassett,  isn't  it  rather  soon   for  tea?     Lunch 
was  so  late. 

BASSETT 

\_Desisting.'] 
Oh,  very  well,  miss. 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

Now,  Sydney !  Always  trying  to  upset  things.  I'm 
more  than  ready  for  my  tea.  Bring  it  in  at  once, 
Bassett. 

BASSETT 

Very  well,  ma'am. 

SYDNEY 

Auntie,  I  know  mother  won't  want  to  be  disturbed. 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

It's  high  time  she  was.  Talk !  Talk !  No  consid- 
eration.    She'll  tire  Hilary  out. 

l^She  goes  toward  the  drawing-room.} 
104 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  105 

SYDNEY 

^Worried.} 
Auntie,  I  think  — 

MISS  FAIRFIELD 

Then  you  shouldn't ! 

[She  goes  out.'] 

BASSETT 

Shall  I  bring  in  tea.  Miss  Sydney? 

SYDNEY 

[With  a  twinkle. 1 
I  think  we'll  wait  half  an  hour. 

BASSETT 

[With  an  answering  twinkle.'] 
Very  well,  miss. 

SYDNEY 

Oh  —  Bassett  — tell  Mr.  Kit  that  —  er  —  that  the 
coast's  clear. 

BASSETT 

He  didn't  stay  out  with  us,  miss.  Him  and  the 
puppy  together  was  a  bit  too  much  for  cook,  with  the 
turkey  on  her  hands. 

[Looking  round.] 
He's  here  somewhere,  miss. 

[She  goes  out.] 

SYDNEY 

[Addressing  space.] 
Kit,  you  idiot,  come  out! 


io6  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

KIT 

[Appearing  at  the  head  of  the  stairs.'] 

I  spend  half  my  life  dodging  your  aunt. 

[As  he  runs  downstairs  he  rakes  a  hunch  of  mistletoe 
from  the  top  of  a  picture.'] 

She  spoilt  the  whole  effect  this  morning,  but  now  — 

[He  advances  upon  Sydney.] 

SYDNEY 

[Enjoying  herself.] 
What  do  you  want  now? 

KIT 

[Chanting.] 
"  The  mistletoe  hung  in  the  old  oak  hall !  " — 

SYDNEY 

[Eluding  him.] 
Shut  up,  Kit! 
[They  dodge  atid  scuffle  like  two  puppies  till  the  drawing- 
room  door  opens,  letting  in  a  sound,  of  voices.] 

KIT 

Sst! 
[He  dashes  up  the  stairs  and  comes  down  again  much 
more  soberly  as  Sydney  says  over  her  shoulder.] 

SYDNEY 

It's  only  mother. 

[Margaret   conies  dragging  into   the  room,  shutting   the 
door  behind  her.] 

SYDNEY 

[The  laughter  dying  out  of  her.] 
Oh,  mother,  how  white  you  look! 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  107 

MARGARET 

Has  Kit  gone? 

SYDNEY 

No,  but  I  can  get  rid  of  him  if  you  want  me  to. 

MARGARET 

I  want  him  to  wait.     I  want  him  to  take  a  letter 
for  me  to  Gray. 

SYDNEY 

Do  you  want  Gray  to  come  here? 

MARGARET 

I  want  him  not  to  come  here. 

SYDNEY 

Oh,  I  see,  not  till  after  father's  gone. 

MARGARET 

He's  not  going. 

SYDNEY 

Mother! 

\_Margaret  looks  at  her  with  tmitching  lips.] 

SYDNEY 

Mother,  you  haven't  — 

MARGARET 

I  can't  talk  to  you  now,  Sydney, 

SYDNEY 

But  mother  — 

MARGARET 

Please. 

SYDNEY 

But  mother  — 


io8  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

MARGARET 

Ask  Kit  to  wait  a  few  minutes. 

SYDNEY 

But  — 
[Margaret   goes  into   the  inner  room  and  sits  down   to 
write  at  a  little  desk  near  the  window.     Her  back  is 
turned  to  them  and  she  is  soon  absorbed  in  her  letter. 
Sydney  stands  deep  in  thought.'] 

KIT 

[At  the  foot  of  the  stairs.'] 

All  serene? 

[Sydney  makes  no  answer.    Kit  prances  up  behind  her 

with  the  bunch  of  mistletoe.] 

KIT 
[Repeating  his  success.] 
"  The  mistletoe  hung  in  the  old  oak  hall !  " 

SYDNEY 

[Violently.] 
Oh,  for  God's  sake,  stop  it ! 

KIT 

[Quenched.] 
What's  the  row? 

SYDNEY 

You  never  know  when  to  stop. 

KIT 

Well,  you  needn't  snap  out  at  a  person  — 

SYDNEY 

[Impulsively.] 
Sorry  !     Oh,  sorry,  old  man  !     I'm  jumpy  tO-day. 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  109 

KIT 

[Chaffing  her.1 
Nervy  old  thing! 

SYDNEY 

^Stricken.'] 
I  —  I  suppose  I  am, 

KIT 

One  minute  you're  as  nice  as  pie,  and  then  you  fizz 
up  Hke  a  Seidlitz  powder,  all  about  nothing. 

SYDNEY 

All  about  nothing.     Sorry,  my  old  Kit,  sorry ! 

[She  flings  herself  down  on  the  sofa.     Then,  with  an 
effort.^ 

Come  and  talk.     What's  the  news? 

KIT 

I  told  you  it  all  this  morning.     What's  yours? 

SYDNEY 

I  like  yours  better.     How's  the  pamphlet  going? 

KIT 

Nearly  done.     I  put  in  all  your  stuff. 

SYDNEY 

[Absently.} 
Good. 

KIT 

Though  you  know  I  don't  agree  with  it.     What  I 
feel  is  —  you're  not  listening. 


no  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

SYDNEY 

lSlozvly.1 

Kit,  talking  of  that  paper — I  read  somewhere  — 
suppose  now  —  is  it  true  it  can  skip  a  generation? 

KIT 

It?     What? 

SYDNEY 

Oh  —  any  illness.  Suppose  —  you,  for  instance  — 
suppose  you  were  a  queer  family  —  a  little,  you  know. 
And  say  your  mother  was  queer  —  and  you  weren't. 
You  were  perfectly  fit,  you  understand,  perfectly  fit  — • 

KIT 

Well? 

SYDNEY 

What  about  the  children? 

KIT 

I  wouldn't  risk  it.  Thank  the  Lord  your  father's 
only  shell  shock. 

ISydney  makes  as  if  to  answer  and  checks  herself. 
Then  — ] 

SYDNEY 

But  isn't  there  a  school  that  says  there's  no  such 
thing  as  heredity? 

KIT 

Well,  all  I  know  is  I  wouldn't  risk  it. 

SYDNEY 

It  —  it's  hard  on  people. 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  lu 

KIT 

My  word,  yes.     They  say  that's  why  old  AlHot  never 
married. 

SYDNEY 

IHigh  and  mightily.'] 
Oh,  village  gossip. 

KIT 

lApologctically.l 
Well,  you  know  what  the  mater  is. 

SYDNEY 

[Abandoning  her  dignity.] 
Who  was  it,  Kit? 

KIT 

Old  Miss  Robson. 

SYDNEY 

Rot! 

KIT 

Fact. 

SYDNEY 

But  she's  all  right. 

KIT 

Had  a  game  sister. 

SYDNEY 

Of   course!     I   just   remember   her.     She   used   to 
scare  me. 

KIT 

Oh,  it  must  be  true.     They're  such  tremendous  pals 
still. 

SYDNEY 

Poor  old  things ! 


112  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

KIT 

Rotten  for  her. 

SYDNEY 

Rottener  for  him !     What  did  she  go  on  being  pals 
with  him  for? 

KIT 

Why  shouldn't  she? 

SYDNEY 

Well,  it  stopped  him  marrying  any  one  else.     She 
oughtn't  to  have  let  him. 

KIT 

You  can't  stop  a  person  being  fond  of  you. 

SYDNEY 

When  it's  a  man  you  can. 

KIT 

My  dear  girl,  you  don't  know  what  you're  talking 
about. 

SYDNEY 

My  dear  boy,  if  a  girl  finds  out  she  can't  marry  a 
man,  it's  up  to  her  to  choke  him  off. 

KIT 

Rot! 

SYDNEY 

Well,  I  think  so. 

KIT 

Couldn't  be  done. 

SYDNEY 

Couldn't  it  just? 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  113 

KIT 

Any  man  would  see  through  it. 

S\DNEY 

As  if  any  man  ever  saw  through  anything. 

KIT 

We're  not  all  fools  where  women  are  concerned. 

SYDNEY 

I  admire  your  air  of  conviction. 

KIT 

Don't  be  clever-clever,  old  thing.     Be  — 
[His  arm  slips  around  her.'] 

SYDNEY 

[Edging  away.'] 
Don't. 

KIT 

[He  glances  round  hastily  at  Margaret,  but  she  is  deep  in 
writing.] 
Why  not? 

SYDNEY 

[Deliberately.] 
1  hate  being  pawed. 

[A   pause.] 

KIT 

Look  here,  Sydney,  d'you  call  this  a  way  of  spending 
Christmas  afternoon? 

SYDNEY 

[Her  lip  quivering.] 
It  isn't  much  of  a  way,  is  it? 


114  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

KIT 

Well,  then,  old  thing ! 

\_Again   the  arm.'] 

SYDNEY 

\_Icily.'] 
I  told  you  to  leave  me  alone. 

KIT 

\_Rising,  huffed.'] 
Oh,  well,  if  you  can't  be  decent,  I'm  going. 

SYDNEY 

ISiveetly.] 
Counterattraction  ? 

KIT 

[Wheeling  round  on  her.] 

Now,  my  dear  old  thing,  look  here !  I  know  it's 
only  a  way  you've  got  into ;  but  when  you  say  — 
"  men  !  " —  with  a  sort  of  sneer,  and  "  counterattrac- 
tion "  like  that,  in  that  voice,  it  just  sounds  cheap.  I 
hate  it.     It's  not  like  you.     I  wish  you  wouldn't. 

SYDNEY 

Dear  me ! 

KIT 

Now  I  suppose  you're  annoyed. 

SYDNEY 

Oh,  no,  I'm  only  amused. 

KIT 

[Heavily.] 
There's  nothing  amusing  about  me,  Sydney.     I'm  in 
earnest. 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  115 

SYDNEY 

I'm  sure  you  are.  You  got  out  of  answering  an 
innocent  little  question  quite  neatly.  It  looks  like 
practice. 

KIT 

[Harried-I 
Now,  look  here,  Sydney,  I  swear  to  you  — 

SYDNEY 

[Like  the  ghost  in  "Hamlet."] 
Swear ! 

KIT 

If  you're  thinking  of  Alice  Hewitt  I've  only  met  her 
four  times. 

SYDNEY 

Oh,  so  her  name's  Alice! 

KIT 

Didn't  you  know? 

SYDNEY 

Never  heard  of  her  till  this  minute. 

KIT 

Then  what  on  earth  have  you  been  driving  at? 

SYDNEY 

Trying  an  experiment. 

KIT 

If  it's  because  you're  jealous  — 

SYDNEY 

Jealous !    Jealous  of  a  —    What  color  are  her  eyes  ? 


n6  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

KIT 

[Carelessly.} 
How'd  I  know? 

SYDNEY 

[With  a  sudden  spurt  of  suspicion.} 
Kit!     What  color  are  mine? 

KIT 

IHclplessly.} 
Oh,  er  —  oh  — 

SYDNEY 

[Terribly.} 
Kit !     What  color  are  mine  ? 

[Relenting.} 
Look  at  my  frock,  you  donkey !     What  do  you  sup- 
pose I  wear  blue  for  ?     So  Alice  has  got  blue  eyes  t 

KIT 

How  do  you  know? 

SYDNEY 

I  know  you.  Kit.     You're  conservative. 

KIT 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  she  isn't  unlike  you.     That's 
what  made  me  talk  to  her. 

SYDNEY 

Oh,  you've  talked  to  her! 

KIT 

[Warming.} 
Oh,    yes !  —  quite    a    lot.     She's    a    friend    of    my 
sister's. 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  117 

SYDNEY 

She  always  is. 

KIT 

What  d'you  mean — "  she  always  is  "  ?     I  tell  you 
I've  only  met  her  four  times.     I  can't  make  you  out. 

SYDNEY 

No? 

KIT 

I  wish  I  could  make  you  out. 

SYDNEY 

\_An  ache  in  her  voice.'] 
Oh,  I  wish  you  could. 

KIT 

[Responding  instantly.} 
I  say,  old  thing,  is  anything  really  the  matter? 

SYDNEY 

[With  a  glance  at  Margaret.} 
I'm  worried. 

KIT 

Oh,  that !     Yes,  it's  beastly  for  your  mother. 

SYDNEY 

Oh,  it's  not  that.     At  least  — 

KIT 

What? 

SYDNEY 

[Lightly.'] 
Oh,  I  don't  know. 


ii8  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

KIT 

[Puzzled.'] 
Can't  you  tell  me? 

SYDNEY 

No,   old   man. 

KIT 

[As  in  Act  /.] 

But  —  look  here  —  marriage  has  got  to  be  a  sort  of 
mutual  show,  hasn't  it?     Confidence,  and  all  that? 
[Sydney  goes  off  into  a  peal  of  laughter.'] 

KIT 

What's  the  matter  now  ? 

SYDNEY 

Do  you  preach  this  sort  of  sermon  to  Alice  ? 

KIT 

Sydney  —  that's  —  that's    rude  —  that's  —  that's  — 

SYDNEY 

Take  time,  darling ! 

KIT 

You're  being  simply  insulting. 

SYDNEY 

Too  bad !     I  should  go  and  tell  Alice. 

KIT 

Damn  Alice! 

SYDNEY 

Oh,  no.  Kit,  she's  got  blue  eyes. 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  119 

KIT 

[Storming.'] 
Look  here,  what's  up? 

SYDNEY 

Nix. 

KIT 

Have  you  really  got  your  back  up?     What's  the 
matter  with  you,  Sydney  ? 

SYDNEY 

D'you  want  to  know? 

KIT 

[With  a  certain  dignity.'] 
I  think  I'd  better. 

SYDNEY 

Well,  it's  — 

[Yawning.] 
"Jam  to-morrow,  jam  yesterday,  but — "  surely  you 
know  how  it  ends. 

KIT 

I  don't.     And  I  don't  want  to. 

SYDNEY 

[Drearily.] 
But  never  jam  to-day. 

KIT 

[Startled.] 
Why,  Sydney! 


120  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

SYDNEY 

[^Recovering  herself,  lightly.'] 
D'you  know  what  that's  out  of? 

KIT 

No. 

SYDNEY 

IMischievously.'] 
You  ought  to— "Alice "— 

KIT 

[Makes  a  furious  gesture.] 

SYDNEY 

[Appeasing  him.] 

No,  no,  no !     "  Alice  through  the  Looking-glass  !  '* 

[More  soberly.] 

I  can't  help  it,  Kit. 

When  I  look  in  the  looking-glass  I  see  —  Alice. 

KIT 

Once  and  for  all,  Sydney,  will  you  shut  up  about 
Alice? 

SYDNEY 

Can't.     It's  her  jam  to-day. 

KIT 

I  wish  you'd  talk  sense  for  a  change. 

SYDNEY 

But  I  am.     I'm  conveying  to  you  as  nicely  and  tact- 
fully as  possible  that  I'm  — 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  121 

KIT 

[Apprehensive  at  lastJ] 
What,  Sydney? 

SYDNEY 

Tired  of  jam. 

KIT 

[Heavily.'] 
D'you   mean   you're   tired   of   me? 

SYDNEY 

That  would  be  putting  it  crudely. 

KIT 

What's  got  into  you  ?     I  don't  know  you. 

SYDNEY 

P'r'aps  you're  beginning  to. 

KIT 

But  what  have  I  done? 

SYDNEY 

[Flaring  eftectively.'] 

Well,  for  one  thing  you  shouldn't  have  told  your 
father  we  were  engaged.  What  girl,  do  you  suppose, 
would  stand  it?     You  ask  Alice. 

KIT 

[Flaring  in  reality.'] 
If  you're  not  jolly  careful  I  will. 

SYDNEY 

[Egging  him  on.] 
Good  for  you ! 


122  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

KIT 

[Furious.] 
And  if  I  do  I'll  ask  her  more  than  that. 

SYDNEY 

[Clapping  her  Jiands.] 

I  should  go  and  do  it  now,  if  I  were  you.     Strike 
while  the  iron's  hot. 

KIT 

You're  mad. 

SYDNEY 

[With  intense  bitterness.] 
Yes,  I  suppose  that's  the  right  word  to  fling  at  me. 

KIT 

[Between  injury  and  distress.] 
I  never  meant  that.     You're  twisting  the  words  in 
my  mouth.     You're  just  picking  a  quarrel. 

SYDNEY 

[Laaily.] 

Well,  what's  one  to  do  with  a  little  boy  who  won't 
take  his  medicine?     I  tried  to  give  it  you  in  jam. 

KIT 

[Curt.] 
You  want  me  to  go? 

SYDNEY 

Yes. 

KIT 

For  good? 

SYDNEY 

Yes. 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  123 

KIT 

Honest  ? 

SYDNEY 

Yes. 

KIT 

Right. 

[He  turns  from  her  and  goes  out.'] 

MARGARET 

[Looking  up.] 
Was  that  Kit?     Sydney,  don't  let  him  go. 

SYDNEY 

Kit !    Ki-it ! 

KIT 

[Returning  joyfully.] 
Yes!     Yes,  old  thing? 

SYDNEY 

[Impassively.] 
Mother  wants  you. 

MARGARET 

Oh,  Kit  —  would  you  take  this  for  me?  It's  for 
Mr.  Meredith.  I  expect  you'll  meet  him,  but  if  not,  I 
want  you  to  take  it  on.     At  once.  Kit. 

KIT 

Right,  Mrs.  Fairfield. 

MARGARET 

You  won't  forget  ?     It's  important. 

KIT 

I  won't. 

MARGARET 

[Detaining  him.] 
What's  the  matter,  Kit? 


124  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

KIT 

\_His  head  «/>.] 
Nothing,  Mrs.  Fairfield. 

SYDNEY 

Mother,  Kit's  got  to  go, 

KIT 

[Resentfully.'\ 
It's  all  right.     I'm  going.     You  needn't  worry. 

MARGARET 

[Humorously,  washing  her  hands  of  them.] 
Oh,  you  two ! 
[She  turns  away  from  them  and  stands,  her  arm  on  the 
mantelpiece,   staring  into   the   fire.     Kit   marches   to 
the  door.] 

SYDNEY 

[In  spite  of  herself,  softly.] 
Kit! 

KIT 

[Qiiickly.] 
Yes? 

SYDNEY 

[Recovering  herself,  impishly.] 
You'll  give  her  my  love? 

KIT 

You're  a  beast,  Sydney  Fairfield! 

[He  goes  out  with  a  slam.] 

SYDNEY 

[In  a  changed  voice.] 
You'll  give  her  my  love. 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  125 

^Running  to  the  door.'] 
Kit! 

[The  door  opens  again,  but  it  is  Gray  Meredith  who 
comes  in.] 

GRAY 

Sydney,  what's  wrong  with  Kit?     He  went  past  me 
like  a  gust  of  wind. 

MARGARET 

[Coming  up  to  them.] 
He  didn't  give  you  my  note? 

GRAY 

He  never  looked  at  me.     What  note? 

MARGARET 

I  — 

GRAY 

Aren't  you  ready?     Why  aren't  you  dressed? 

MARGARET 

I  — 

GRAY 

You  must  be  quick,  dearest. 

MARGARET 
I  — 

[She  sways  where  she  stands.] 

[Gray  goes  to  her  and,  half  clinging  to  him,  half  repids- 
ing  him,  she  sits  down  with  her  arm  on  the  table  and 
her  head  on  her  arm.] 

GRAY 

Of  course !     Worn  out !     You  should  have  come  an 
hour  ago. 


126  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

MARGARET 

Yes. 

GRAY 

Never  mind  that  now.     Sydney,  get  your  mother's 
wraps. 

MARGARET 

[Agitated.'] 
Sydney  —  wait  —  no. 

GRAY 

Warm  things.     It's  bitter,  driving. 

SYDNEY 

[Uncertainly.'] 
Gray,  I  think  — 

GRAY 

Get  them,  please. 
[After  a  tiny  pause  and  look  at  him,  Sydney  obeys.     You 
see  her  go  upstairs  and  disappear  along  the  gallery.] 

GRAY 

[Solicitous.] 

I   was   afraid  it   would   come  hard   on   you.     Has 
he —  ?     But  you  can  tell  me  all  that  later. 

MARGARET 

I  must  tell  it  to  you  now. 

GRAY 

Be  quick,  then.     We've  got  a  fifty-mile  drive  before 
us. 

MARGARET 

[Not  looking  at  him.] 
I  —  I'm  not  coming. 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  127 

GRAY 

[Smiling.'] 
Not?     There,  sit  quiet  a  moment.     My  dear  —  my 
dear  heart  —  you're  all  to  pieces. 

MARGARET 

I'm  not  coming. 

GRAY 

[Checking  what  he  takes  for  hysteria.] 
Margaret  —  Margaret  — 

MARGARET 

I'm  not  coming.     It's  Hilary. 

GRAY 

What?     Collapsed  again?     I  thought  as  much. 

MARGARET 

I  — 

GRAY 

Tragic !     But  —  it  simplifies  his  problem,  poor  devil. 
Has  Alliot  charge  of  him? 

MARGARET 

No,   no.     It's  not  that.     He's   not   ill.     He's   well. 
That's  it.     He's  well  —  and  —  he  won't  let  me  go. 

GRAY 

He  won't,  won't  he? 

[He  turns  from  her.] 

MARGARET 

Where  are  you  going? 

GRAY 

To  settle  this  matter.     Where  is  he? 


128  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

MARGARET 

Leave  him  alone.  It's  me  you  must  punish.  I've 
made  up  my  mind.  Oh,  how  am  I  to  tell  you?  He 
convinced  me.     He  —  cried,  Gray. 

[Then,  as  Gray  makes  a  quick  gesture.'] 

You  mustn't  sneer.  You  must  understand.  He's 
so  unhappy.  And  there's  Sydney  to  think  of.  And 
Gray,  he  won't  marry  us. 

GRAY 

What's  that? 

MARGARET 

The  rector.     He's  been  here. 

GRAY 

\_Furious.'] 
My  God,  why  wasn't  /? 

MARGARET 

And  Aunt  Hester  —  she  made  it  worse. 

[Despairingly.] 
You  see  what  it  is  —  they  all  think  I'm  wicked. 

GRAY 

Damned  insolence! 

MARGARET 

But  it's  not  them—  It's  Hilary.  I  did  fight 
them.  I  can't  fight  Hilary.  I  see  it.  It's  my  own 
fault.     I  ought  never  to  have  let  myself  care  for  you. 

GRAY 

Talk  sense. 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  129 

MARGARET 

But  there  it  is.     It's  too  much  for  me.     I've  got  to 
stay  with  him. 

GRAY 

[For  the  first  time  taking  her  seriously.l 
Say  that  again,  Margaret,  if  you  dare  — 

MARGARET 

I've  got  to  —  stay  — 

\_lVith  a  sharp,  crying  note  in  her  voice-l 

Gray,  Gray,  don't  look  at  me  Hke  that ! 

[He  turns  abruptly  away  from  her  and  walks  across  to 
the  hearth.  He  stands  a  moment,  deep  in  thought, 
takes  out  and  lights  a  cigarette,  realizes  what  he  is 
doing,  and  with  an  exclamation  flings  it  into  the  fire. 
Then  he  comes  ba<:k  to  Margaret,  who  has  not 
moved.'] 

GRAY 

[Very  quietly. 1 

This  —  this   is   rather  an   extraordinary   statement, 
isn't  it? 

MARGARET 

[Shrinking.'] 
Don't  use  —  that  tone. 

GRAY 

I  am  being  as  patient  as  I  can.     But  —  it's  not  easy. 

MARGARET 

Easy —  ? 

GRAY 

Do  you  mind  telling  me  exactly  what  you  mean  ? 


130  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

MARGARET 

I  can't  talk.     You  know  I'm  not  clever.     I'm  try- 
ing to  do  what's  right  — 

GRAY 

Then  shall  I  tell  you? 

[She  makes  a  little  quick  movement  zvith  her  hands,  but 
she  says  nothing.l 

GRAY 

[Watching  her  keenly  while  he  speaks.} 
You  mean  that  you've  made  a  mistake  — 

MARGARET 

[Misunderstanding.} 
Yes. 

GRAY 

—  that  the  last  five  years  goes  for  nothing  —  that  you 
don't  care  for  me  — 

MARGARET 

Gray! 

GRAY 

Wait.     That  you've  never  cared  for  me  —  that  you 
don't  want  to  marry  me  — 

MARGARET 

How  can  you  say  these  things  to  me? 

GRAY 

But  aren't  they  true? 

MARGARET 

You  know  —  you  know  they're  not  true. 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  131 

GRAY 

Then  what  do  you  mean  when  you  say  "  I  won't 
come  "  ? 

MARGARET 

I  mean  —  Hilary.  I've  got  to  put  him  first  because 
—  because  he's  weak.     You  —  you're  strong. 

GRAY 

Not  strong  enough  to  do  without  my  birthright.  I 
want  my  wife  and  my  children.  I've  waited  a  long 
while  for  you.     Now  you  must  come. 

[Sydney  comes  down  the  stairs,  a  red  furred  cloak  over 
her  arm.  She  pauses  a  few  steps  from  the  bottom, 
afraid  to  break  in  on  them.^ 

MARGARET 

If  Hilary's  left  alone  he'll  go  mad  again. 

GRAY 

Margaret  —  come. 

MARGARET 

How  can  I  ? 

GRAY 

Margaret,  my  own  heart  —  come. 

MARGARET 

You  oughtn't  to  torture  me.  I've  got  to  do  what's 
right. 

GRAY 

IDarkening.l 
Are  you  coming  with  me?     I  sha'n't  ask  it  again. 


132  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

MARGARET 

Oh,  God  —     You  hear  him  !     What  am  I  to  do  ? 
^Sydney  comes  down  another  step.} 

GRAY 

Why,  you're  to  do  as  you  choose.  I  sha'n't  force 
you.  I'm  not  your  turnkey.  I'm  not  your  beggar. 
We're  free  people,  you  and  I.  It's  for  you  to  say  if 
you'll  keep  your  —  conscience,  do  you  call  it  ?  —  and 
lose  — 

MARGARET 

I've  lost  what  I  love.     There's  no  more  to  lose. 

GRAY 

You  sing  as  sweetly  as  a  toy  nightingale.  Almost 
I'd  think  you  were  real. 

MARGARET 

[IVounded.'] 
I  don't  know  what  you  mean. 

GRAY 

"  What  you  love !  "  You  don't  know  the  meaning 
of  the  notes  you  use. 

MARGARET 

[Very  white,  but  her  voice  is  steady. 2 
Don't  deceive  yourself.     I   love  you.     I   ache  and 
faint  for  you.     I  starve  — 

SYDNEY 

[Appalled,  whispering.'] 
What  is  it?     I  don't  know  her. 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  133 

MARGARET 

I'm  withering  without  you  like  cut  grass  in  the  sun. 
I  love  you.  I  love  you.  Can't  you  see  how  it  is  with 
me  ?     But  — 

GRAY 

There's  no  "  but "  in  love. 

MARGARET 

What  is  it  in  me?  There  is  a  thing  I  can't  do.  I 
can't  see  such  pain. 

GRAY 

[Hoarsely.] 
Do  you  think  /  can't  suffer? 

MARGARET 

I  am  you.  But  he  —  he's  so  defenseless.  It's  vivi- 
section —  like  cutting  a  dumb  beast  about  to  make  me 
well.     I  can't  do  it.     I'd  rather  die  of  my  cancer. 

GRAY 

[The  storm  breaking.'] 

Die  then  —  you  fool  —  you  fool ! 

{Sydney  descends  another  step.     The  cloak  slides  from 
her  hands  on  to  the  baluster.] 

GRAY 

[Without  expression.] 
Good-by. 

MARGARET 

[Blindly.] 
Forgive  — 

GRAY 

How  can  I  ? 


134  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

MARGARET 

I   would  you  — 

GRAY 

D'you  think  I  bear  you  malice?  It's  not  I.  Why, 
to  deny  me,  that's  a  Httle  thing.  I'll  not  go  under  be- 
cause you're  faithless.  But  what  you're  doing  is  the 
sin  without  forgiveness.  You're  denying  —  not  me  — 
but  life.  You're  denying  the  spirit  of  life.  You're 
denying  —  you're  denying  your  mate. 

SYDNEY 

IStrimg  up  to  breaking  point.'] 
Mother,  you  shall  not. 

MARGARET 

[As  they  both  turn.'] 
Sydney ! 

SYDNEY 

[Coming  down  to  them.] 
I  tell  you  —  I  tell  you,  you  shall  not. 

MARGARET 

[Sitting  down,  with  a  listless  gesture.] 
There's  no  way  out. 

SYDNEY 

There  is.  For  you  there  is.  I've  thought  it  all 
along,  and  now  I  know.  Father  —  he's  my  job,  not 
yours. 

MARGARET 

[With  a  last  flicker  of  passion.] 
D'you  think  I'll  make  a  scapegoat  of  my  own  child? 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  135 

SYDNEY 

ISternly.} 
Can  you  help  it?     I'm  his  child. 

[She  throws  herself  down  beside  her.} 
Mother!  Mother  darling,  don't  you  see?  You're 
no  good  to  him.  You're  scared  of  him.  But  I'm  his 
own  flesh  and  blood.  I  know  how  he  feels.  I'll  make 
him  happier  than  you  can.  Be  glad  for  me.  Be  glad 
I'm  wanted  somewhere. 

MARGARET 

[Struggling  against  the  hope  that  is  flooding  her.} 
But  Kit,  Sydney  — Kit? 

SYDNEY 

[With  a  queer  little  laugh  that  ends,  though  it  does  not 
begin,  quite  naturally.} 

Bless  him,   I'll  be  dancing  at  his   wedding  in  six 
months. 

MARGARET 

But  all  you  ought  to  have  — 

SYDNEY 

[Jumping  up,  flippantly.} 

Oh,  I'm  off  getting  married.     I'm  going  to  have  a 
career. 

MARGARET 

—  the  love  —  the  children  — 

SYDNEY 

[Strained.} 

No  children  for  me,  mother.     No  children  for  me. 
I've  lost  my  chance  for  ever. 


136  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

MARGARET 

[Weakly. } 
No  —  no  — 

SYDNEY 

[Smiling  down  at  her.'] 
But  you  —  you  take  it.     I  give  it  to  you. 

MARGARET 

But  — 

SYDNEY 

[Dominant.] 
What's  the  use  of  arguing?     I've  made  up  my  mind. 

MARGARET 

But  if  your  father  — 

SYDNEY 

[At  the  end  of  her  endurance.'] 

Go  away,  mother.     Go  away  quickly.     This  is  my 
job,  not  yours. 

[She  turns  abruptly  from  them  to  the  window,  and  stands 
staring  out  into  the  darkening  garden.] 

MARGARET 

[Dazed.] 
So  —  so  — 

[She  sways,  hesitating,  unbelieving,  like  a  bird  at  the 
open  door  of  its  cage.] 

So  —  I  can  come. 

[He  makes  no  answer.] 

MARGARET 

[With  a  new  fidl  note  in  her  voice.] 
Gray,  I  can  come. 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  137 

GRAY 

[Without  moving. 1 
Can  you,  Margaret? 

MARGARET 

\_In  heaven.'] 
I  can  come. 

GRAY 

[Impassively. ~] 
Are  you  sure  ? 

MARGARET 

[In  quick   alarm.] 
What  do  you  mean? 

GRAY 
[Stonily.] 
Why,   you   could   deny   me.     You've   chopped   and 
changed.     I  want  proof  that  you've  still  a  right  to 
come. 

MARGARET 

[Like  a  child.] 
You're  angry  with  me? 

GRAY 

No. 

MARGARET 

You're  angry  with  me  ? 

GRAY 

I  want  proof. 

MARGARET 

I  get  frightened.     I'm  made  so.     Always  I've  been 
afraid  —  of    Hilary  —  of    every    one  —  of    life.     But 


138  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

now  —  you  —  you're  angry,   you're  so  angry,  you're 
very  angry  with  me  —  and  I  — 

[She  goes  steadily  across  the  room  to  him.    He  makes  no 
movement.} 
I'm  not  afraid. 

[She  puts  up  her  hands  and,  drawing  him  down  to  her, 
kisses  him  on  the  mouth.l 

Is  that  proof? 

GRAY 
[Quietly.} 
Proof  enough.     Come. 

[He  takes  the  cloak  and  throws  it  round  her.  They  go 
out  together.  As  Sydney,  forgotten,  stands  looking 
after  them,  Bassett  enters  with  the  tea  tray.  She 
puts  it  down  on  the  table  and  turns  up  the  lights.} 

BASSETT 

Is  the  gentleman  staying  to  tea,  miss? 

SYDNEY 

[Correcting  her.} 
Mr.  Fairfield.     It's  my  father,  Bassett. 

BASSETT 

We  thought  so,  miss. 

SYDNEY 

[Smiling  faintly.} 
Did  you,  Bassett? 

BASSETT 

He's  got  your  way,  miss !     Quick-like, 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  139 

[She  opens  the  drazmng-room  door.'] 
Tea's  ready,  ma'am. 

[Outside  the  motor  drives  away.'] 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

[Entering  with  Hilary.] 
Tea's  very  late. 

[Bassett  goes  out.] 

HILARY 

I  thought  I  heard  the  sound  of  a  car. 

[Suspiciously.] 
Where's  your  mother? 

SYDNEY 

She's  gone  away. 

HILARY 

[Stricken.] 
Gone? 

SYDNEY 

Gone  away  for  good. 

HILARY 

Where? 

SYDNEY 

Out  of  our  Hves. 

HILARY 

With—? 


Out  of  our  lives. 


SYDNEY 

[Quickly.] 


140  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

IFuriously.'] 
This  is  your  doing,  Sydney. 

HILARY 

IDased.'] 
Gone.     Everything  gone. 

SYDNEY 

I'm  not  gone. 

HILARY 

But  that  boy  —  ? 

SYDNEY 

That's  done  with. 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

You've  jilted  him? 

SYDNEY 

Yes. 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

Like  mother,  like  daughter. 

SYDNEY 

Just  so. 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

I  pray  you  get  your  punishment. 

SYDNEY 

Your  prayers  will  surely  be  answered,  auntie. 

HILARY 

ISlowly.} 
It  was  a  cruel  thing  to  do. 

SYDNEY 

He'll  get  over  it.     Men  —  they're  not  like  us. 


I 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  141 

HILARY 

[Timidly. 1 
You  loved  him? 

SYDNEY 

What's  that  to  any  one  but  me? 

HILARY 

[Peering  at  her.'] 
You're  crying. 

SYDNEY 

I'm  not. 

HILARY 

You  love  him? 

SYDNEY 

I  suppose  so. 

HILARY 

Then  why?     Then  why? 

SYDNEY 

We're  in  the  same  boat,  father. 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

Yes,  that's  the  way  they  talk  now,  Hilary.  They 
know  too  much,  the  young  women.  It  upsets  every- 
thing. 

[Hilary  sits  down  on  the  sofa.} 

HILARY 

[Broken.l 

I  don't  see  ahead.  I  don't  see  what's  to  become  of 
me.     There's  no  one. 

SYDNEY 

There's  me. 


142  A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT 

HILARY 

[Not  looking  at  hcr.'\ 
I  should  think  you  hate  me. 

SYDNEY 

I  need  you  just  as  badly  as  you  need  me. 

HILARY 

[Fiercely.'] 

It's  your  damn  clever  doing  that  she  went.  D'you 
think  I  can't  hate  you? 

SYDNEY 

[Close  to  him.] 

No,  no,  father,  you  want  me  too  much.  We'll  make 
a  good  job  of  it  yet. 

HILARY 

[His  head  in  his  hatids.l 
What  job? 

SYDNEY 

[Petting  him,  coaxing  him,  loving  him,  her  hands  quiet- 
ing his  twitching  hands,  her  strong  will  already  con- 
trolling him.'] 

Living.  I've  got  such  plans  already,  father  — 
father,  dear!  We'll  do  things.  We'll  have  a  good 
time  somehow,  you  and  I  —  you  and  I.  Did  you 
know  you'd  got  a  clever  daughter  ?  Writing  —  paint- 
ing —  acting !  We'll  go  on  tour  together.  We'll 
make  a  lot  of  money.  We'll  have  a  cottage  some- 
where. You  see,  I'll  make  it  up  to  you.  I'll  make  you 
proud  of  me. 


A  BILL  OF  DIVORCEMENT  143 

MISS   FAIRFIELD 

[Surveying  them.'] 

Proud  of  her !  D'you  see,  Hilary !  That's  all  she 
thinks  of  —  self  —  self  —  self  !  Money  —  ambition — 
and  sends  that  poor  boy  away.  A  parson's  son !  Not 
good  enough  for  her,  that's  what  it  is.  She's  like  the 
rest  of  the  young  women  —  hard  as  nails !  Hard  as 
nails ! 

SYDNEY 

[Cryitig  out.'] 

Don't  listen  to  her,  father!  Father,  don't  believe 
her!     I'm  not  hard.     I'm  not  hard. 

[His  arm  goes  round  her  with  a  gesture,  azvkzvard,  timid, 
yet  fatherly.] 

The  Curtain  Falls. 


FEINTED  IK  THH  UNITED  STATES  OT  AKBRICA 


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